I’m just coming down from an emotional life-evolving summer.

It was by far the most challenging summer for me personally and professional.

I decided to make a change in my life; to take a leap and broaden my horizons. To do that, I needed to find my courage. I needed to stand more powerfully. I was confused for most of my life, I have let people take advantage and use me. I allowed myself to be less then who I was. I often give away my power too freely.

People who I thought were friends, and even yogis, took it willingly as I gave it away. I can’t be angry with them, I allowed it to happen. My friends pointed it out to me but I was still blind. But now as I stand at the tail end of 2012, I have come to realize what I need to do to.

Stand more powerfully. Stand for truth, stand for integrity, stand for what I believe in and stand for what works for me.

I need to be courageous…what does that mean? My new Yoga Bestie Michelle Marchildon speaks about a Fearless Heart in her book Finding More on the Mat. I’m going to get me one of those fearless hearts. Life lessons tell me I need this. I need to really find my courage. It starts first with observing the world around me. It’s an abundant world so we need not be hoarders. We must not take what is not ours, and we must not take it all!

Don’t hoard or grasp at something. If you hold on too tight you lose your power. Grasping and hoarding is a symptom of insecurity. Insecurity creates fear, and fear contributes to powerlessness.

Don’t get me wrong, fear can be a gift. There’s a difference between fear that keeps us safe from harm, and fear that keeps us from living a full life. Being afraid of sky diving or bungee jumping may be valid.  The fear that lives in our imagination, the fear that limits our existence is not valid. We must work to overcome it.

Have the courage to let go and have faith that the Universe is abundant.

I am not as smart as, as well read as, or as educated as someone I know and admire. Therefore I am less then whole, not as good or as worthy.

That’s crazy talk, and intellectually I know it, but there is still part of me that believes it.

What I’m striving for now is balance. Balance is stability, and stability is powerful! I always have choices. I can choose to be taken advantage of, I can choose who to be friends with, I can choose how to react to situations, and this is where we find power. Every time I come to a place were I feel shaky, how do I shift my thinking to create balance and power. I ask myself, “What can I do in moment to change the way I am feeling?”

I can breath, I can observe and I can do things that makes strong. I can practice gratitude for the moment. This moment is a learning opportunity. What can I learn from this experience so that it doesn’t happen again? How I can feel more powerful?  This is an opportunity to become more skillful.

Much of feeling powerful is wrapped up in how we feel about ourselves. Practicing self love is the first step to empowerment. If you love yourself deeply you will stand tall in your life and you will treat others with respect.

“How we treat ourselves in truth is how we treat those around us.”~ Deborah Adele

As I create a more powerful me. I will embrace all the things that make me courageous and help me to stand in my power.

Observing these five things truthfully will make me more skillful and powerful in my life. If you feel this share it and do the same:

1. Gratitude: thanking my life experience for showing me what I need and what I don’t want.
2. Compassion: is knowing that I can’t help everyone. Trying to do what I think is best for people steals their power
3. Balance: I cannot do everything and I must take care of myself first.
4. Truthfulness: live and stand with integrity. I need to really own my shit.
5. Do not steal or take advantage of others: Think about your actions

“travel light, spread light, be the light”

~

Editor: Kate Bartolotta

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