By Arielle Giordano
Are you a victim or a take-charge person?
Do you feel empowered or disempowered in life?
Would you like to change to become fully present and responsible in life?
Life brings a cornucopia of choices and experiences that we can relate to and identify as either challenges or opportunities. Some experiences we like and some we dislike. They can bring joy and fulfillment or they can bring pain and disappointment. We have the freedom of choice to interpret our experiences. We can choose to perceive them as negative or positive, view them as growth challenges, or choose to deny and ignore them.
Standing in our power means that we are aware of being fully responsible for our choices, experiences and lives.
The empowering realization is that every situation and experience has an element of goodness within it. Goodness comes in the form of a golden morsel of knowledge and truth. Being responsible means being empowered in the way we live our lives. We can choose to live as a victim and have pity parties. We are in control of our choices and our lives.
How do we move from the perspective of being a victim to living in our power? We take baby steps on the path to becoming more responsible human beings. We know that we can choose to step into power. This may mean choosing something that we do not want to see happen on some level, do not agree with or do not like. As empowered human beings, we make choices because we know at a very deep level the next steps on our journey. Yes, consequences incur with each choice. Yes, there is also a price we pay for each choice.
The Dance of Empowerment and Powerful Living
The following steps will help you move from being a victim to a responsible and powerful human being:
1. Be aware. Know that you created all of your life challenges, experiences and lessons.
2. Be responsible. Responsibility lies in the eye of the beholder. Know that you are responsible for all of your experiences, choices and consequences.
3. Avoid the blame and shame game at all costs. Know that there is no one to blame and this is not about feeling shame or playing games.
4. Be proactive instead of reactive. Put yourself into your life instead of just letting life happen. Do something each day to achieve a goal, solve a problem or resolve an issue.
5. Experience your power. Know that you are a powerful being. It is up to you to achieve a power balance. Do not abuse your power or ignore it. Find your inner balance of power and choose to move forward in it.
6. Move Forward. Take steps each day to let go of the attitude of victimization.
7. Love and enjoy living in the power of you!
Arielle Giordano M.A.M.E.is a professional dancer, choreographer, teacher and facilitator. From belly dancer and snake charmer to Salsa and Hawaiian Hula, Arielle enjoys sharing her gifts and talents with an authentic style rich in grace in dance, psychology, philosophy, and the expressive arts. Arielle is both a Faculty Member and the Area Chairperson for the College of Humanities at the University of Phoenix. She inspires students with her profound knowledge of Humanities, Art, Psychology and Philosophy. She is a published author of two books and magazine articles. In 2011, she completed the Barlow Abnormal Psychology 3rd.ed. Instructor’s Manual, and 2009 her book Psychology, A Journey 3rd.ed. Study Guide was published by Nelson Education. She has been interviewed on radio and television, and has been featured in newspapers and magazines across the United States and Canada. Visit dancingfromtheinsideout.com or email agbeautifuldance@gmail.com.