As children, we are often free-spirited, confident and willing to put ourselves out there despite imperfections or judgments. We are celebrated for the simple act of trying our best and encouraged to keep going even if the outcomes aren’t exact.
But there’s an invisible point in our lives where we stop believing in ourselves this way and we make life much more complicated even if it’s not obvious that we’re doing it.
We often struggle to accept kind words and compliments; they become embarrassing. We can find our activities limited by our fears of rejection and judgments. We may also seek approval from others in many of the dreams and decisions that we make for ourselves.
Unfortunately, in some circumstances, a change in behavior can be influenced due to physical and psychological traumas and wounds. This would make complete sense and we could all understand the change and why their personal power is impacted.
However, most of the time, this type of change occurs not because of trauma, but because of self-esteem and self-awareness values being influenced by our peers and social influencers.
Ironically, we then go full-circle and spend our lives as adults trying to rebuild our spirit, confidence and willingness to put ourselves out there.
Here are: 5 Ways to Honor Your Personal Power and Become Your True Self
1.Be honest – Own who you actually are not just who you want to be
It’s important to know where you’re going but you also need to know where you’re starting from. Don’t let wounds or obstacles from your past limit what you can do in your future. Know your strengths, weaknesses and triggers. Embrace them all and learn from the lessons they teach you about yourself and your needs.
2.Stop imitating or trying to be other people
We all have people that we admire that influence who, what and how we do things. It can become so natural to start imitating other people when they’re doing stuff we like. But it’s unhealthy to imitate someone else by habit instead of being consciously aware as to why you’re doing it. Intentionally choose the ways you allow influence into your thoughts and behaviors. Let them become great examples to follow instead of anchors keeping you stuck in the shadows of someone else.
3.Embrace your vulnerability
There is no shame in being angry, sad, lonely, or scared. These are natural emotions when something negative has happened. Unfortunately, many of us are taught to fake it or put on a brave face when we’re feeling vulnerable. However, allowing yourself to be truthful with your emotions as they occur, allows you to process through the experience and deal with it as it’s happening instead of it coming back to haunt you later.
4.Pay attention to your relationships
If you’re surrounding yourself with people who aren’t supporting you in healthy and constructive ways then stop doing it. This includes friends, family, colleagues, clients etc. It’s simply not worth it to place yourself in a situation where you’re having to defend what you do and why you do it. If the people around you can’t accept you on your terms, then find a new community of people who will.
5.Do what you say you’re going to do
Keeping your word is essential for a healthy reputation in your personal and professional life. Integrity, trust and reliability are all traits that demonstrate your character and it speaks volumes. If you say you’re going to do something, then do it. If you don’t, you’ll let people down, including yourself. Your true self is demonstrated by how you treat others and yourself.
Your personal power is an important component of your self-worth and self-esteem. It is a result of living in a way that aligns with your personal values. When your values are important enough to influence your choices, you’ll always find a way to honor that personal power and give you greater confidence to be your true self.