The 7 Hallmarks of an Empowered Life – Are You Living One?

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By Kathy Caprino –

Empowerment — the act of investing oneself with more authority and control over one’s path — is a vitally important process that I teach and explore every day as a career transformation coach. I’ve personally witnessed the transformative effect it can have, when an individual takes control of the reins of her life and decides to no longer be a victim. Yet many still say to me that “empowerment” is a cliché, an overused term that’s new-agey and silly. Try as I might, I can’t find a more appropriate word to describe what I believe is required to live well, meaningfully, and purposefully, and to align your activities in life and work with who you really are. Empowerment means accessing and marshaling all the passion, power and purpose you have inside you, so you can live and work as you truly want to.

So who really cares about empowerment?

Everyone should care, but most don’t have a clue about it. Understanding how to empower yourself more and more each day is critical to a life well lived. You need to know how to access more power and self-authority at the precise moments you feel you have none of it — when you believe that you have no control over what’s happening around you or in your life, career, and your relationships, and when you can’t seem to get off the ground the initiatives you care most about. Empowerment is critical to you when you feel exhausted and depleted, lacking in hope and optimism, feeling all is lost. Empowerment is critical in times like these.

An empowered life has a completely different quality from one that’s fraught with hopelessness and resentment. When you’re empowered, you are fully aware of the challenges you face – and you see them with eyes wide open — but you know in our heart that you have what it takes to navigate through them successfully. You know too that you are the master of your own ship, not deluding yourself that you’re in complete control (because, of course, we aren’t), but you realize that you “co-create” what’s occurring in life, and therefore, can shift what’s happening by generating the right changes within yourself and acquiring the right kind of support to move you forward.

Are you living an empowered life? Here are the seven ways to know.

You’re living an empowered life when…

1)    You experience self- respect

You feel respect and appreciation for yourself and for your intrinsic value, and experience others’ respect for who you are as well. Your life is aligned with your authentic values, needs, goals and passions, and you live from that knowledge and wisdom. Sure, there are some folks who think less of you than you’d like, but you understand that you can’t control what others think of you, so you don’t obsess or worry about what’s out of your reach.

2)    You feel meaningful

Whatever you’re doing in your life, you feel there is meaning and purpose in the roles you assume and the functions and activities you perform. Your work and your life are in synch with your definition of meaning and purpose.

3)    You share love

Love flows to and from you in an easy way that keeps you supported and bolstered through the challenging experiences that life inevitably delivers. And you give love easily, supporting and nurturing those you care about.

4)    You feel contributive

You are using your talents, skills and passions in a way that serves others and the world. As author Maria Nemeth shares in her great book The Energy of Money – we’re happiest when we’re demonstrating in physical reality what we know to be true, and giving form to our Life Intentions in ways that serve others and the world.

5)    You feel excited and energized (much of the time)

An empowered life energizes and enlivens you. For most of your days and most of the time in your days, you feel motivated, upbeat, excited by what’s in front of you. Sure, you have sick and “down” days here and there, but by and large, your energy, physical vitality, health and well-being are more than sufficient for you to achieve what you long to.

6)    You have a vision for your life

You’re not a cork bobbing on the surface of the ocean, haphazardly with no direction except for where the wind and tides take you. You have a compelling vision for your life, and you understand the legacy you want to leave behind. You know what you stand for, care about, and what you want to have given, contributed and left behind, once your time on this planet is over.

7)    You access support to achieve your vision

Finally, you know you need help in this world to do and be what you want to be. You’re not isolated and separated from the world – you have access to the support you need, and a nurturing network that helps you fill in your power and knowledge gaps. We all have these gaps – the key to closing them is to know when you need help, and having the courage to ask for it.

In reading this list, where do you stand? Empowered, or needing some help to close your power gaps? You can call “empowerment” a cliché all you want, but the happiest, most successful and fulfilled individuals I’ve ever met (and lately I’m meeting a lot of them), are truly empowered, and have grabbed the reins to ensure their lives and careers are moving in the direction they authentically want to go.

Where do you stand on the empowerment scale? Is it finally time for you to power up your life and career?

(For additional support to identify and close your professional power gaps, download my free homework tool “Assessing and Closing Your Power Gaps” from the Amazing Career Project.)

 

Kathy Caprino, M.A., is a nationally-recognized women’s work-life expert, career coach, marketing consultant, and author of Breakdown, Breakthrough: The Professional Woman’s Guide to Claiming a Life of Passion, Power, and Purpose. Founder/President of Ellia Communications, Inc. – a career coaching and marketing consulting firm dedicated to helping women achieve breakthrough to greater success and fulfillment in life and work, Caprino is a former corporate marketing executive, trained psychotherapist, seasoned coach, and sought-after writer and speaker. As a top media source on women’s career issues and trends, she has appeared in more than 100 leading newspapers and magazines and on national radio and television. For more information, visit www.elliacommunications.com or write to [email protected]. Connect with Kathy on: Twitter, FB, LinkedIn

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4 Comments

1. 

   Dr. Annie B. Wilder

   November 8, 2012 at 1:13 pm

   I enjoyed your article. Empowering women is my approach to helping victims of domestic violence and low self-esteem. As a result I have seen individuals – many women that could not move forward prior to attending my groups and/or private sessions begin to come alive and step out to embrace life as never before dreamed could be.

   Reply
2. 

   Kathy Caprino

   November 8, 2012 at 1:38 pm

   Thanks Annie, for sharing your mission to help victims of domestic violence and low self-esteem. Glad to know of your programs and the powerful impact they’re having. All best in your work.

   Reply
   • 

     Annie B. Wilder

     December 20, 2012 at 3:02 pm

     Hi Kathy,
     I want to let you know I pointed the women attending the self-esteem and domestic violence groups to your article. We discussed many of the points. They have been very helpful to many of the women. I thought you this might be something you’d like to hear.
     Blessings

     Reply
     • 

       Kathy Caprino

       December 21, 2012 at 5:43 pm

       Thanks so much, Annie. I am grateful for your feedback, and am so happy to know that this article and its tips and recommendations have been useful to the women you work with. That’s music to my ears. Thanks again, and wishign you a wonderful holiday season and joyful 2013.

       Reply