EMPOWERMENT

A national radio station has been suggesting that rather than making a New Years Resolution, that listeners choose a Power Word for the year.  They suggest that once you choose your word, you keep this word in mind throughout the year, using it to focus your actions.

I have chosen the word “empowerment”.  In traditional Junior High School manner, I started with a trip to Ol’ Mr. Webster, or at least the online equivalent.   Empowerment: to give power or authority to; authorize, esp. by legal or official means; OR to enable or permit. I especially like the word “ENABLE” in there.

Most of the time when we think of empowerment, it seems that we think in terms of “girl power”. Especially in reference to a woman being strong and independent.  I don’t generally feel that I need to focus on more personal strength.  However, the word Empowerment really stuck with me.  I think there are a number of ways I can Empower this year.

My son is now nearly 12 years old, but honestly doesn’t always act like it.  I want to focus on empowering him to be stronger for himself.  Encouraging him to believe in himself, believing that he CAN do all those things he tends to say “I can’t” to.  This will require a fairly major change on my part.  I have the bad habit of doing things for him, rather than making him figure out how to do it for himself.  It’s just so much easier to do it myself—but as he’s getting older, its getting rather silly for his Mommy to have to do things for him!

Using that same theory on my Cub Scout boys is another goal.  Each boy should feel empowered to be HIS best.  This includes reminding him, sometimes over and over, that he is good at something! It seems that a high percentage of my boys are not naturally feel self confident.  They tend to be non-sports-oriented, often more along the lines of being “geeky”.  They are often not academically astute, with tendencies toward hyperactivity, all of which unfortunately does not make them the most popular in their classes.  Enabling them to find something that they are good at, giving them an opportunity to “win”, will Empower these boys, and provide them with something to have pride in!  This can be a life-long change for them!

I also want to focus on the idea of empowering the miscellaneous people around me.  There are moments when everyone could use encouragement; a reminder to believe in themselves.  If I can provide this, why shouldn’t I?  It costs me nothing, but will provide great rewards in knowing that the people I care about are feeling enabled in their own lives!

Finally, I do know that there are still areas in my own life that I can work on.  I want to remember my own power to have patience; to be more active; to do my job and everything I undertake to the best of my ability, without taking on too much! 

I believe in myself.  I believe in my son, the cub scouts, and all my family and friends.  So for this next year, I will work to empower everyone!