The 3 Keys to Cementing Personal Power

Creativity, critical thinking, and curiosity cement personal empowerment.

Source: Michael De Groot/Pixabay

In my last post, I wrote about the ways in which we give up our personal power and how we can take it back. In this one, I’d like to expand on the concept of personal power and share several ways we can cement it into our lives.

In my previous post I wrote, “Personal or self-empowerment is all about taking charge of your life and taking control. It means making conscious decisions and positive choices about your future, such as having goals and a purpose. It's about setting intentions and following through on them.”

Living in the Now Is the Only Time You Can Change Anything

One of the best ways to stay in your power is to practice mindfulness. Mindfulness is all about living in the present because it is only in the present that you can control what is going on in your life. It is only now that you can do anything about your current situation. It is the only time that you can change anything. Focusing on the big picture can be overwhelming. It’s OK to have plans that include large goals in the future, but staying mindful can help you to focus on just what you can do today (or if that is too much, then what you can do in the next hour) to move yourself forward toward your goals.

In 1967 rock band The Grassroots released an English version of the song "Let’s Live for Today." It’s kind of a hedonistic hippy song, but I still like the refrain for its reminder to live mindfully:

“Sha la la la la la live for today

And don't worry 'bout tomorrow, hey hey hey”

Three Habits to Develop Self-Empowerment

I have found that the best, if not the most fun, way to take charge of your life is to develop a habit of practicing the three C’s of personal empowerment: creative thinking, critical thinking, and curiosity.

Creative thinking empowers you by opening up whole new avenues of opportunity. When you develop your creative thinking ability, you recognize more patterns and connections; you become a better problem-solver; you think faster on your feet; and it enables you to adapt to change and uncertainty. In brief it makes you better prepared to deal with adversity because you are willing to think beyond the traditional approaches and find alternative solutions or answers. Creativity keeps us looking for ways to continually improve and grow.

Critical thinking enables you to evaluate interpret and analyze information. It empowers you by teaching you to think on your own, which makes you self-reliant. Critical thinking can make you more open-minded and willing to learn new things, but it also steels us to be wary of falsehoods. Critical thinking provides us with clarity, accuracy, and relevance when we encounter social pressure to accept the status quo.

Curiosity fuels both creative and critical thinking because it encourages asking questions. It is a natural thirst for knowledge that dates back to our cave dwelling days when we had to continuously find things to eat while protecting ourselves from danger. It is a trait that everyone has but has often been suppressed by authorities that don’t want to be questioned. Curiosity encourages you to learn more about a particular topic/subject that has intrigued you, which in turn empowers you with knowledge that can feed creativity or protect you from fake news. It serves as an alternative to making snap or biased judgments by encouraging you to learn more of the reasons behind any particular action or statement. And, when you combine mindfulness with curiosity, it can make you a better listener, which can lead to better acceptance of others' opinions and beliefs.

Curiosity also emboldens risk-taking because it allows us to learn more or have new experiences. Risk tolerance is important in innovation and in standing up for one’s moral values. Curiosity can even abate anxiety by encouraging you to dig deep to understand the cause. Being curious about your feelings can lead to exploring your emotions which may lead you to a greater understanding of your subconscious needs and motivations.

The Common Denominator Is Question-Asking

Tying these three empowerment activities together is the act of asking questions. Challenging the status quo, questioning authority, and not accepting everything you are told without adequate proof is a primary task in creative thinking, critical thinking, and curiosity.

Finally, successfully using these three empowering skills will help you make conscious decisions. Successfully taking control of your life with these skills can make you feel good about yourself and heighten your self-confidence and self-esteem.