By LAURA LEONARD
Doctor of Chiropractic
Los Alamos
The Cambridge Dictionary defines empowerment as “the process of gaining freedom and power to do what you want or to control what happens to you.” How then do we claim this for our lives when so many things around us are out of our control?
THINK … Let it GO!
Don’t waste energy on to things you have no control over. The world has some big problems and other people make choices or act in ways we don’t agree with. What you can control…is yourself, your thoughts and your actions. That’s not to say that bad things or people will not affect us. What it means is that you will not become a victim to the circumstances around you. Focusing on outside things which are out of our control victimizes us and takes away our power. You have the power to determine the direction your mind and life go in on a daily basis. Finally, forgiveness is the ultimate act of letting go. Forgiveness for things done to us is an immensely empowering choice because it takes the power other people have over you and gives it back to yourself.
ACT … Contribute
Use your talents and resources to contribute to things and causes that matter to you. Every contribution no matter how small is valuable. Volunteering is very empowering because it puts what we can do into focus not what we can’t. Contribute to yourself by learning new things, developing a hobby, meditating, seeing a therapist, using preventative medicine, seeing your family doctor, eating well and exercising. It’s not selfish to focus on yourself. Put your own oxygen mask on first if you want to be your best and contribute to those around you. When you are filled up first, you will have energy to be of service to others. If you have a history of; personal tragedy, a devastating health diagnosis, witnessed trauma or been the victim of violence, getting help is crucial. These events are generally out of our control and often result in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. PTSD makes it difficult to think clearly enough to attain empowerment. Getting help from a licensed trauma therapist is a self-contribution that puts you on the road to wellness. Once you begin to heal, you can contribute further by helping others in the same situation.
FEEL … Expectations
Give yourself everything you need and don’t expect others to fill you up. Being in relationship with others is for partnership and personal growth. When relationships are expected to fill our emotional voids, we are going to be disempowered and disappointed. When we expect others to be a certain way, it does us and them a disservice. Work towards giving yourself everything that you need emotionally and need nothing from those around you. If a relationship is harmful to you, set boundaries and/or terminate the relationship. Boundaries are not defined by expectations we have for others. They are based on expectations we have for ourselves. The big difference here is the locus of control. It is empowering when we point the focus towards ourselves and not others. This allows us to be in healthier relationships and to detach from trying to control the negative action or inaction of those around us. Empowerment requires defining your personal values and what you expect for yourself. The best way to influence others is through your personal actions. Be the person you want others to be and the world will reflect this back to you.
About Dr. Laura Leonard
Dr. Leonard’s practice focuses on posture and performance using a combination of soft tissue release, adjustments and exercise recommendations. She also coaches patients on nutrition, self-care and body awareness so they can manage themselves in between visits. Los Alamos Chiropractic Center is in the Mary Deal Building on Trinity Drive.
