Do you know that you have access to a power within yourself that can change the world and move mountains?
When it comes to powerful people, they’re the ones who get things done, and they don’t always do so without making waves. Rosa Parks was one of those people. When she refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a bus in Montgomery Alabama, her silent actions launched the Montgomery Boycott and many other movements that led to the end of segregation. Now that’s power!
Being a powerful presence in the world and initiating change doesn’t always involve launching a renegade movement, however. Some of the most powerful change can happen right in your own life.
Here are 8 ways you can access your hidden power:
1. Don’t compromise who you are for anything
You are unique; it’s not just your skills and talents that are valuable to the world, it’s who you are entirely. There are billions of people on this planet, and you have an absolutely unique position in the world that gives you an individual vantage point to experience life in a way nobody else can.
Your ideas, thoughts, and inspirations are valuable contributions to the world and if you spend any amount of time trying to fit in to please other people, you’re not only being untrue to yourself, but you’re also depriving the world of your contribution.
“If you set out to be liked, you would be prepared to compromise on anything at any time, and you would achieve nothing." - Margaret Thatcher
2. Don’t be afraid to fail
When you’re not afraid to fail, you’re not afraid to live your dreams no matter what the result might be. Real power comes from being able to act on your highest dreams without worrying about whether or not things will go exactly as you want. If you’re afraid to fail, you’re holding back from life, and that keeps you from living up to your full potential.
"It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all - in which case, you fail by default." - J.K. Rowling
3. Live your life fully without trying to escape it
Powerful people don’t want to escape their lives – they want to live their lives to the fullest. While most people think of a vacation as an opportunity to run off to a secluded island and escape daily life, powerful people think of a vacation as an opportunity to practice self-care.
Self-care doesn’t mean being lazy and sleeping for a week – it means doing something that rejuvenates your mind, body, and spirit. Consider attending an Ayurvedic retreat instead of jetting off to an island or hopping on a cruise ship. Do something that nurtures your entire existence. True power is knowing when to slow down and recharge.
4. Add yoga to your daily routine
Yoga is one of the best ways to become more powerful in the world because it guides you toward being present while allowing your internal energy to flow freely through your body. Yoga also helps you learn how to trust yourself so you can access a power beyond your wildest dreams.
5. Acknowledge other people regularly
We’ve all been powerfully impacted by people throughout our lives – yet, many times we haven’t said anything to let those people know. The truth is, we don’t always know how we impact someone else’s life unless they choose to tell us, so start telling other people when you’re moved by their actions or words.
When you acknowledge other people for who they are and what they contribute to your life and their community, you open people up to the idea of their own value. Like a chain reaction, they will start to do the same for others in their own life, including returning that acknowledgment to you.
You don’t need a reason to acknowledge people, you just have to share what’s in your heart.
7. Empower yourself
The way empowerment is discussed is a little, well, disempowering. With common phrases like, “I empower you to make the right decision,” and “we empower our employees to make decisions, it’s no wonder people think they have to receive empowerment from someone else. Empowerment isn’t something you ask permission for, it’s something you step up to and embody. If you want to access your power, empowering yourself is one of the most important things you can do.
8. Be grateful and compassionate
Oprah Winfrey said, "Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough."
Nothing worthwhile is truly accomplished with brute force, but rather through compassion and being grateful for life itself. These are the qualities that have the most power because they make people feel good. When people feel good, they’re more likely to do good things for other people.
Power isn’t something you receive, it’s something you uncover and own. Real power is gentle, yet so penetrating that its effects and impact can be felt across worlds. Powerful is who you really are – you just have to step into it.