How to Step into Your Power at Any Stage of Life

For centuries, the expectation has been for us to fall back, stay in our lane, or sit pretty. The curse of inequality continues to loom in a variety of ways, hindering greater progress for women in society. We have been conditioned to play small, a frame of mind that has been ingrained in the fabric of a handful of cultures including ours. Wives, mothers, girlfriends, and professional women face distress from the pressure of trying to fit in a box. The unrealistic expectations have led some to believe they don’t have power.

One of the most difficult things a woman will do in her lifetime is make the choice to step into her power. Part of the reason for the difficulty is the courage it takes to own your truth, set boundaries, and allow yourself to be seen. Old-world influences affect how women are perceived. The belief that her value is diminished by imperfections is still very much alive. In certain parts of the world, it is assumed a woman’s mistakes and so-called failures lessen her worth. It isn’t uncommon for guilt to back us into a corner. Feelings of shame can silence us but quietness is one of the biggest ways we give power away.

Stepping into your potential can happen at any time if you’re willing to confront the challenges that come with going against the grain.  There will be moments when you question if it’s worth the effort. The work demands that you gain a stronghold on your identity, otherwise, you can fall right back into a comfort zone. You must be ready to give up mainstream standards, in order to free yourself from the limitations set by others. You need to trust that you know what is best for you. Owning your power also requires a large amount of confidence.  In many instances, a woman will need to ignore conditioned beliefs, and instead align herself with personal truths, a process that is oftentimes, quite painful.

Understanding that individual power is the key to authenticity, stronger self-esteem, and absolute happiness is life-changing. Living on your own terms means being unapologetic about who you are. Liberating, isn’t it? But as priceless as it is to show up as yourself, it presents countless hurdles. We use lots of filters to hide our fears, insecurities, and all the things we think people may not like about us. Many women spend a lifetime covering up the cracks without grasping the true beauty in their uniqueness. There’s only one you, so accept your experiences, including blunders because these are the lessons that brought you to where you are today. Hopefully, you have arrived at a place, where you’re ready to become the woman you’re meant to be.

For years, the role of chameleon came easy to me. I spent years trying to meet assumptions that would make others happy. The exercise left me without a clue, of who I was. For years, I didn’t feel like I was good enough, fearful of my reflection in the mirror. The journey has been ongoing but finally, I found a place that holds space for the real me. There is tremendous freedom that comes from standing in our truth. 

If you have not yet, arrived at your moment, this is your call to step out into the light. Take hold of the power that comes with owning who you are or reclaim it if you temporarily lose yourself. Hopefully, the following tips can help you get started!

Take Ownership: Own who you are. Embrace your truths and everything you are feeling. There is nothing better than being honest and open. Let your true colors show every day. Your authenticity will draw you to the right tribe. Be clear on your intentions and boundaries. Decide for yourself what you want and deserve without fear of using your voice to let others know your worth. Taking this major step will help you choose the best partner, job, and people to surround yourself with long term. Once you do the heavy lifting, work to live in alignment with your values and beliefs to encourage balance in your world.

Don’t Be Afraid to Use Your Gifts: Build self-awareness to help nurture the best parts of yourself. Figure out what your needs are and move toward giving yourself those things. These will not necessarily be tangible items, they can mean emotional, spiritual, or physical fulfillment. Secondly, use your intuition, the inner voice can be a compass in your decision-making process. Incorporate the voice of reason to empower you on the path to becoming your best self. Your gut does not steer you wrong.

Allow Space for Reflection, Regrouping, and Grace: Always make room to contemplate life. Are you where you want to be? Are you happy with the person you have become? What areas of life can you improve on? Spend time considering the world around you and how the pieces in your life work in harmony.

Don’t be afraid to create the life you envision. Your needs can change during any station of life, therefore, re-evaluate from time to time, I highly recommend it. Everyone needs time to reshuffle. Life changes and people do, too. 

Lastly, practice kindness with yourself. Sometimes, we forget to give ourselves grace. Perfection is nonexistent, so when the media tries to tell you the opposite, remember that everyone has a history. Learn to forgive yourself. No one gets it right on the first try.

Lastly, age is nothing but a number, especially when it comes to stepping into our power. Whether you are 25 or 65, you have the ability to design a new blueprint for your life. If the foundation is solid, we can always rebuild the structure. The human spirit is relentless with an impetuous will. You have all the power. Do not fool yourself into believing that you don’t have any. Walk into your potential and show the world what you’re made of!

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