Personal Empowerment: The Basics

Personal Empowerment is something that all of us chase, at least to some degree and to some extent. And yet, many people fail to understand what the concept really means. Many people chase personal empowerment from the outside. They read books, they attend classes, and they seek out people who make them feel better about themselves.

All of these activities are certainly positive and worthwhilebut maybe its time to start looking at what personal empowerment really means.

To truly find empowerment, you need to develop it within yourself. This, unfortunately, isnt achieved in a monumental, profound moment of enlightenment or a miraculous healing eventbut rather, is something that we live and demonstrate on a day-to-day basis. Its a process that takes time, dedication, hard work, and devotion.

The biggest challenge that we all face, when it comes to finding our own sense of empowerment and self-worth, is that were usually habitual in our self-judgement and self-criticism. We reject ourselves out of habit, not because we have real, rational reasons to do so.

Please dont misunderstandself-doubt and self-criticism arent always so easily explained. Sometimes, these issues are very deep-seated and complicated. But in the words of the famous Sean Covey, we become what we repeatedly do.

If you make an effort to live an empowered life, and wake up every morning with a sense of intentionality and dedication concerning this goal, then youll find yourself much more likely to be successful.

The hard, cold truth is that self-empowerment really needs to be self-taughtand we can only teach it to ourselves by becoming what we wish to be. This means that you need to visualize the you that you wish to be one dayand then create that person with your words and actions.

This doesnt mean that you pretend to be something youre not. It means that you habitually correct one negative behavior at a time, until the process becomes automatic. And when this happens, youll realize that the change wasnt an act. It was real, genuine, and effective.

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Category: Personal Empowerment - Mary L Bondi Lmhc

The future of self-care is now with this comprehensive guide for self-regulation and self-health. You owe it to yourself to learn and use the powerful tools Eldon provides in this impressive book.

C. Norman Shealy, M.D., Ph.D., author of Energy Medicine

This new book by Eldon Taylor is truly a gripping read. Eldon brings his fascinating life experiences to bear in a genuinely inspiring and uplifting way. I think anyone with my professional interest will find this book very helpful.

Raymond Moody, M.D., Ph.D., author of Life After Life

For more than three decades, as I studied the brain, unbeknownst to me, Eldon Taylor thoroughly studied the mind. Fortunately, I have had the privilege to meet Eldon and to read his wonderful books. In Self-Hypnosis and Subliminal Technology, he explains the power of the mind/brain/matter connection and how we can fashion a few incredible tools for self-improvement. Every seekers bookshelf should have this book!

John L. Turner, M.D., neurosurgeon and author of Medicine, Miracles, & Manifestations

Dont wait another day to achieve your dreams and goals! Eldon Taylors guide for self-hypnosis and subliminal messages will show you how to liberate the creative power of your mind to realize success, self-improvement, health, happiness, and well-being. Create your own program with Eldons proven tools for easy use at home, on the road, anywhere!

Rosemary Ellen Guiley, author of Develop Your Miracle Mind Consciousness

Do you want to be manipulated by those who understand how your mind works? No! So read this book and gain confidence in using subliminal-learning strategies. They are powerful techniques for manifesting your highest potential. Dr. Eldon Taylor has made this technology very accessible. Kudos!

Emma Bragdon, Ph.D., author of Resources for Extraordinary Healing

While pioneering psychologist Sigmund Freud is said to have chiefly concerned himself with the negative and destructive habits of the subliminal selfthe rats and beetles in the cellarage, as Aldous Huxley referred to it Frederic W. H. Myers, another pioneer of the subliminal, was more focused on the hidden or buried treasures ignored by Freud. Eldon Taylor continues in the tradition of Myers, searching below the threshold of consciousness for meaningful processes and powers that enrich our lives and give purpose to them.

Michael Tymn, author of The Afterlife Revealed

Eldon Taylors penetrating approach to hypnosis and the mind skips the nonsense and gets to the bottom line of making your life better, right now. If you know what you want, feel ready for change, or sense there is a repeating cycle in the works, this is the workbook that can change your life.

Gillian Holloway, Ph.D., author of The Complete Dream Book

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Self-Hypnosis And Subliminal Technology: A How-to Guide ...

Here at Vantage Point, we do what we can to focus on whats most important here: your treatment. But despite the hard work we put into teaching our patients how to thrive in their circumstances and make the best of their diagnosis, the big lesson we repeat over again is that, ultimately, its on you to improve its on you to get better.

Thats why personal empowerment is a significant part of our treatment philosophy here at Vantage Point. Were big proponents of utilizing empowerment to fight back against the symptoms of mental disease.

Studies on empowerment as a treatment option for mental health cases call it an emerging technology in the late 80s, and since then its become well-understood that the relationship between self-esteem and issues like anxiety and depression some of the most common mental health diagnoses here in the United States is a very powerful and closely-knit relationship.

As we stated earlier, the erosion of self and the erosion of a mental health condition are related and empowerment can be the tool necessary to stave off the negativity that can, in certain cases, turn a case of bad mood into an actual clinical depression.

Not everyone needs empowerment to prevent a mental illness, but in cases where individuals are more susceptible to symptoms and diagnoses, like acute clinical depression or panic attacks, seeking out methods of empowerment to reduce the impact of negative events on your psyche is a valid option.

Empowerment isnt just about making you feel more comfortable and secure in who you are. Its about opening your eyes to the breadth of choice you have in life and the fact that you have the power, the capacity and the means to choose and act how you please to choose and act in your own best self-interest, despite the consequences of your mental illness. Empowerment is getting to that point where you can actively say no to the debilitation that a condition like schizophrenia or depression or trauma places on you, and continue to say no. Its not just a moment in time or a goal, but rather, an important step in a continuous journey towards living with, and overcoming the effects of your own diagnosis.

Personal empowerment can come from many places, and we dont put too much of an effort on trying to define those places. Thats not on us. We arent here to come into your life and tell you what will make you feel better. You must find that out on your own: you must extend yourself, stretch outwards and discover both in the realms of what youre comfortable with and outside your comfort zone what makes you feel happy and empowered.Thats not an easy place to get to in the first place, and we understand that. That is why we at Vantage Point start things off slow, giving you the tools and support you need to begin that exploration into how to get better and empower yourself to eventually ignore your condition.

Here are a couple ways personal empowerment can be developed: through a hobby or activity, through social interaction, through physical exercise, through a rewarding job, through a place of importance and significance in a family, and through the love, commitment and support of those around you, affirming the fact that you are worth loving, and worth cherishing.

Through community, through support, through our therapy options, treatment plans, and aftercare resources, there is a myriad of ways we can help you individually get to that point where your condition and future lie in your very own hands in a way that doesnt make you feel scared or overwhelmed, but confident.

Mental illnesses are broad and cover a large variety of effects and symptoms. But by and large, being mentally ill is an erosion of who you identify as. Your personality is compromised, either by a behavioral disorder, or by a mood disorder, by depression or anxiety, or a life-controlling phobia.

Who you are becomes trapped, chained and held hostage by a mental condition that tries to redefine you with fear and uncertainty. At a certain point, you begin to doubt that youll ever get better. You doubt that theres a way out, that you can even find a way without the disease. You doubt that you deserve that way if there was one.There are many ways in which mental diseases are treated, not the least of which is through extensive therapy. But at the end of the day, that therapy is meant to help you realize in your own way, with your own words and logic that there is a way out, and you can take that way right then and there.

Through positive psychology, we at Vantage Point try to undo some of the uncertainty and damage that living with a serious mental condition can impose upon you. There are many sides to the pain of being mentally ill, not the least of which has to do with the stigma associated with most mental illnesses. But being empowered and secure in your ability to make your own choices, overpower the limitations of your disease, and ultimately live life in a way you want to live it, means being able to flat out oppose your disorder and weaken the very foundations on which it stands to affect your life.

Positive psychology is the study of enabling people to feel confident and secure in their role in life. That could mean giving people a sense of purpose, or self-fulfillment through their habits and behavior in a community. Mental illnesses are diseases of the mind, and just like how they erode your sense of self, you can erode the disease itself with time, commitment and help. Positivity is a huge part of that.

We should note that life doesnt automatically get better because you simply choose to be happy all the time. Being happy all the time isnt an ideal state or even a true state. Its a lie. And were not about lying or forced positivity. We here at Vantage Point want you to be honest with yourself but we also want to extend that honesty onto your perception of yourself and the world around you. In many cases, being mentally ill can automatically take us into negative places in our mind even in cases of mania. Negativity doesnt just become an aspect of life like it is for most it becomes life.

Through positive psychology, we try and help remind you that you have a place in life, and reason for living. Life has its ups and downs, but we ride the ups and weather the downs, and we do it all for ourselves and, more importantly, the people we love. By embracing all of life all of the ugly and the beautiful, and not just the darkness we can help you once again enjoy living, working, playing, and being who you are, whoever that might be.

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Personal Empowerment | Vantage Point Recovery

PETSAPersonal Empowerment through Self Awarenessfeatures videos that deal frankly with sexual assault and rape. They are designed to be informative and educational.

The videos emerged out of a multidisciplinary team effort at The University of Montana, comprised of faculty, staff and students, and are based on rape and sexual assault reduction and prevention data.

The role of gender in rape and sexual assault can be challenging. We ask our students and anyone watching these videos to approach them open to this challenge. By hearing the important information presented, we hope that all of our students grow in their relationships on campus so that they can truly enjoy their college years.

PETSA is the cornerstone of UMs campaign to address issues of sexual violence. It is an online tutorial designed to educate the entire campus community.

PETSA is for the entire UM community and anyone interested in ending sexual violence. All students are required to complete the PETSA online tutorial and quiz. We invite everyone to explore this website, view the videos, and offer feedback.

PETSA is an online tutorial in Moodle that comprises a number of short videos and a quiz. It takes 20-30 minutes to complete. All students must complete the tutorial before registering for future semester courses.

Students: Go to the tutorial

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Embracing oneself serves as an important starting point for embracing others. The Empowerment Initiative investigates the factors that impact self-esteem, self-efficacy and other facets critical to developing and maintaining a healthy sense of identity. It also explores ways of combating anxiety, depression and other barriers to personal acceptance.

The Empowerment Initiative considers how a variety of interrelated systems from communities to schools to the media establish cultural codes and environments that cultivate or impede attitudes of acceptance. The initiative also examines how these conventions and contexts shape the social experiences and personal perspectives of individuals.

Interacting with family, friends, classmates, co-workers and other groups influences how people perceive themselves and the world around them. Accordingly, the Empowerment Initiative researches and develops prevention and intervention approaches designed to cultivate understanding, acceptance and an appreciation for individuality.

The nonprofit Nebraska Bullying Prevention and Intervention Initiative supports translational research designed to foster positive, accepting communities free from bullying and other negative behaviors. Studies conducted through the Empowerment Initiative focus on identifying and addressing the complex personal, social and cultural factors underlying such behaviors, thereby advancing practical solutions to promote healthy relationships within families, schools and communities.

To support this mission, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to the Empowerment Initiative.

In 2015, a CNN article reported that teens spend around nine hours per day on their social media accounts, with some teens checking their accounts over 100 times per day. The simple fact that this revelation is not as shocking as it should be shows us how desensitized and integrated social media has become in our daily lives. The truth is these days you can find just about anything, real or fake, on the internet...

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Nebraska Bullying Prevention and Intervention Initiative ...

Building a Network of Quality Caring Community Based Instructors

radKIDS, Inc. is the national leader in children's safety, with headquarters based in South Dennis, Massachusetts. The radKIDS curriculum is brought to children and parents by the training and development of nationally certified instructors drawn from their own communities. By empowering a community with certified local instructors, the radKIDS Personal Empowerment Safety Education program is not just a program but a true gift to the community. The radKIDS curriculum meets, and in many cases exceeds, the foundational education standards for elementary physical education and health in all 50 states.

radKIDS does not tell your child what we hope they will do, we actually teach, train and empower children with real skills so they can recognize, avoid, resist, and if necessary escape violence or harm in their lives. Education is the only thing that can change fear into power and radKIDS can and does give children opportunity and power to live safer in our world today.

Since its inception in 2000, radKIDS, Inc. has been committed to providing education that enhances the ability of children and parents to utilize knowledge, skills, and power to protect themselves from violence and harm.Read On...

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Werediet agnostic meaning we do our best to honor and support the wisdom and usefulness of ANY dietary approach that you choose to practice.The Institute for the Psychology of Eating isthe worlds only online school dedicated to a progressive, positive, holistic understanding of eating psychology and nutrition. Unique and revolutionary in its approach, the Institute teaches students and professionals to effectively work with the most common and compelling eating challenges of our times:weight, body image, overeating, binge eating, emotional eating, endless dieting, digestion, fatigue, immunity, mood and much more.

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1. Embody Love Movement Embody Love Movement conveys a world where all beings embrace who they are from the inside out. This is a truly beautiful and positive site where the coaches provide skills to put unhealthy relationship with food back in balance.

2. Dishing with your Daughter Karens life work is dedicated to shifting the way the next generation of young girls perceive themselves and experience food. This is an incredibly important mission in todays world where media influences guide young girls in negative and destruction decisions. If you have a daughter, you should give Karens advice a chance.

3. The Flourishing Life Susan Tolles equips women over the age of 50 with the tools they need to flourish and to create the life they desire.

4. Nourishing Our Radiance Nourishing Our Radiance has the mission to inspire women to transform their relationships with nourishment through compassionate mind-body awareness, healing foods, and restorative self-care.

5. Dr. Christina Hibbert The Psychologist, The Mom, & Me is a blog covering a range of topics related to personal growth for women, as well as parenting. Dr. Hibbert is an expert on Parenting, Womens Emotions, Pregnancy & Postpartum, and Grief & Loss.

6. Bonnie Marcus Women Success Coaching has been recognized for many years by Forbes magazine as one of the top sites for women and business. The topics covered in this blog relate to career and business development as well as personal growth.

7. Sylvias Blog for Women Entrepreneurs Sylvia Browder uplifts women entrepreneurs through her work and writing. Sylvias blog not only covers the necessary business topics of finances, customer service, marketing and PR, but also includes discussions on self-care, spirituality, and beauty.

8. Melissa Ambrosini Melissa teaches women how to take back control of their life, master their inner Mean Girl, smash through limiting beliefs and karate chop self doubt to live the life of their dreams. In her blog she offers stories and suggestions about how to reclaim your life!

9. Danielle Dowling Danielle Dowling is a life coach who encourages women to access their power to achieve their personal and professional dreams. She writes motivating and uplifting posts about how to take your vision and put it into action.

10. Gypsy Gals The GypsyGals, written by Prime and Nina Sarmiento, provide support and advice for solo female travellers, as well as detailed, photo-rich city guides to the best cities for women to travel alone.

11. Seed of Freedom Tanias mission is to guide women to lives of freedom, by awakening their true selves, dissolving fear and returning to love. Her blog is up close and personal as she shares the wisdom of her life.

12. Leonie Dawson Leonie Dawson is a self help author, artist, CEO, and self-descried hippie. Her unique style invites all women to step into their personal and professional power. Her strategic musings and practical wisdom have been featured on Problogger, Tiny Buddha, magazines like Spellcraft, Life Images, Goddess and Spheres, and in three of SARKs best-selling books on creative fulfillment and freedom.

13. The Wild Sisterhood Magazine Jen Saunders is a writer, painter, and empowerment artist who is passionate about inspiring women to love themselves, follow their hearts and change the world. Her writing has been featured on popular websites such as Tiny Buddha, Kind Over Matter, Roots Of She, and many more. Her first guest contribution to Tiny Buddha was so popular, her story was also featured in the bestselling Tiny Buddha book.

14. Empowering Girls and Women Marina DelVecchio is an author and college instructor who is committed to making space for feminist discourse. Her blog covers topics ranging from sex discrimination, women in the workplace, violence against women, and womens literature. Be sure to check-out her reading list.

15. Girl with Curves Tanesha Awasthi is a style influencer who wants to inspire the curvy community to be confident in their bodies and to have fun with fashion. Her blog, Girl with Curves, proves that style is about so much more than size.

16. Thais Guimaraes Long blog posts with inspirational musings and practical advice. Thais support coaches, healers, teachers, trainers and heart-centered women optimize their lifestyle, grow a spiritually badass business, step deeper into faith and lead from authentic feminine power.

17. Christina Morassi Christina is on a mission to help women entrepreneurs bring together all their gifts to create careers that dont exist yet, and to find their unique branding and make lots of money!

18. REBEL Dietician A REBEL Dietitian is defined as one who breaks free from the typical diet plan nutrition counseling and aligns counseling advice with client values and goals. The REBEL Dietitians include Rebecca Bitzer, Kait Fortunato and Dana Magee. They all have unique experiences and specialties to bring to the table to show you what makes Taste the Sweet REBELLION so special and successful.

19. Extraordinary Wellness Coaching Extraordinary Wellness Shaman, Lauren A. Ebbecke is fiercely committed to empowering mid-career women to exchange drama, trauma, and karma for happiness, peace and confidence.

20. Mara Glatzel Mara Glatzel is an intuitive coach and writer who wants women to realize and experience the power of self-love, self-care, and self-responsibility. Maras blog is a must-read as her gift for writing allows her to artfully describe the challenges and beauty of self-love.

21. Girl Talk HQ Girl Talk HQ is here on a mission to: inspire, inform, entertain, encourage, motivate and empower millennial women to live their best life through positive media content. Enough of the tabloid gossip we are here to support each other!

22. The Politesse The Politesse was created with one goal: to provide everyday tools to help young women navigate the real world. Written by A & A two workplace warriors, their blog posts are sassy, real and to-the point. Covering all topics from landing your dream job, fashion at the office to surviving jet lag.

23. Dr. Nancy D. OReilly Dr. OReillys blog, formerly known as WomenSpeak, serves as a platform of women connecting and sharing their stories of transformation with one another. This website is a connection hub and a source of inspiration, empowering women to change the world.

24. The Womenabler Blog Womenable focuses on women entrepreneurs and the valuable programs they are bringing into this world. This inspiring blog features different stories sharing how women support one another as they pursue and fulfill their dreams.

25. Sacred Bombshell Lifestyle Abiola offers her unique flavor of empowerment as she shares her secrets of self love. She is leading the feminine power revolution, redefining the word bombshell to mean a woman who loves and accepts herself, without apology.

26. Kimberley Jones Kimberley is a spiritual mentor helping to awaken women to their power. She also gives great business advice as she is a conscious entrepreneur.

27. She Heros SheHeroes is about inspiring young women to be tomorrows leaders. This blog highlights different women sharing their passions. This is interesting, provocative, and empowering to women of all ages.

28. Girls Globe This international womens blog advocates, inspires and raises awareness of issues concerning girls and women around our world. Girls Globe demonstrates what happens when girls and women are empowered and how they change society.

29. Our Bodies Ourselves Our Bodies, Ourselves is a nonprofit, public interest organization based in Cambridge, Mass, that develops and promotes evidence-based information on girls and womens reproductive health and sexuality. This blog is inspiring and empowers women to become engaged in the political aspects of sustaining good health for themselves and their communities.

30. Girls Cant What Girls Cant What is a blog for coming of age girls, encouraging them to break through gender stereotypes and achieve their dreams.

31. Owning Pink This blog teaches practical tips aimed at helping you heal and ROCK your health, business, love life, and more.

32. She takes on the world She Takes on the World provides articles on a variety of subjects related to entrepreneurship, interviews with fabulous women entrepreneurs, business resources, and more.

33. Lissa Rankin More than a doctor of bodies, but a doctor of souls, Lissa Rankin is fired up and shares her passion with us through her thoughtful, insightful, and inspiring blog.

34. Skylar Liberty Rose Skylar is an advocate for stripping away layers of conditioning and discovering the uniqueness within. She is inspired by souls with spirit and courageous hearts. It is here on her blog that she shares the treasures that continues to empower her along her journey.

35. The Way of the Happy Saras aim is to inspire and empower women to lead from their deepest wisdom, through reclaiming our connection to embodied feminine cycles, rhythms, and seasons.

36. 8 Women Dream 8 Women Dream is here to inspire women to go after their dreams and the first step is to share it. Their intention is to help you believe that you can achieve your dreams. They say, It is our sincerest wish through the sharing of our personal experiences that we will inspire you to pursue your big dream.

37. Body Love Method Melissa reminds us that we are worthy now and the importance of letting go of the limiting beliefs so that each person can step into the true version of themselves.

39. Wondrous Women Wondrous Women is all about the beauty of being a woman and all the amazing gifts that come along with this. This blog provides a female network that its participants can rely on for mentoring and motivation to help you shine.

40. The Every Girl A resource helping shape the creative, career-driven woman to experience her life better lived. The Every Girl is the inspirational blog to help you achieve your dreams, whatever they may be. Whether its how to incorporate a little creativity into your day or motivating you to seek out your dream job.

41. Eat the damn cake Kate started this blog because she was tired of not eating cake! She wanted a platform to talk about eating the damn cake in a less literal sense, too In the sense of jumping in, enjoying the small things, figuring out how to feel good about regular life. Now, she write about the experience of being a woman in a strange, sometimes hostile, sometimes subtly weird, often mysterious and always fascinating world.

42. Awakening Women This engaging blog invites us to jump in to the the great love affair with the great mystery. Its stimulating content that asks us to awaken more fully into our lives and healing journeys.

43. For Harriet For Harriet is an online community for women of African ancestry. They encourage women, through storytelling and journalism, to engage in candid, revelatory dialogue about the beauty and complexity of black womanhood.

44. Pretty and Powerful A motivational empowerment and lifestyle blog for women leaders, providing informative and inspiring content to uplift women and remind them of their worth and value.

45. Body Karma Saras mission is to guide women to lives of freedom, by awakening their true selves, dissolving fear and returning to love. Her blog is up close and personal as she shares the wisdom of her life.

46. Fearlessly Kind This is a movement of real girls, redefining what is beautiful, valuable and possible. It is our mission to inspire each girl to be curious, ask questions, and be authentic, brave and totally fearless when it comes to understanding who she is, pursuing her dreams, blazing a trail and making her spectacular mark on the world.

Our list is a work in progress and were always open to suggestions. Feel free to email us and post your favorite Womens Empowerment Blogs in the comments below!

Warm Regards,The Institute for the Psychology of Eating Institute For The Psychology of Eating, All Rights Reserved, 2014

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For many in Extension, empowerment is the goal we have for our programs and the volunteers, participants, or clients with whom we work. But what is empowerment? How can we recognize it? Evaluate it? Talk about it with others who are interested in empowerment? Our recent literature review of articles indicating a focus on empowerment, across several scholarly and practical disciplines, resulted in no clear definition of the concept across disciplinary lines. Many using the term cope with its lack of clear, shared meaning by employing the concept very narrowly, using only their specific scholarly discipline or program to inform them. Others do not define the term at all. As a result, many have come to view "empowerment" as nothing more than the most recently popular buzz word to be thrown in to make sure old programs get new funding.

We maintain that empowerment is much more than that. Empowerment is a process that challenges our assumptions about the way things are and can be. It challenges our basic assumptions about power, helping, achieving, and succeeding. To begin to demystify the concept of empowerment, we need to understand the concept broadly in order to be clear about how and why we narrow our focus of empowerment for specific programs and projects (specific dimension or level, etc.) and to allow discussion of empowerment across disciplinary and practice lines. Understanding empowerment became a critical issue for us as we grappled with the task of sharing the People Empowering People (PEP) program with Extension faculty across the country.

Understanding Power

At the core of the concept of empowerment is the idea of power. The possibility of empowerment depends on two things. First, empowerment requires that power can change. If power cannot change, if it is inherent in positions or people, then empowerment is not possible, nor is empowerment conceivable in any meaningful way. In other words, if power can change, then empowerment is possible. Second, the concept of empowerment depends upon the idea that power can expand. This second point reflects our common experiences of power rather than how we think about power. To clarify these points, we first discuss what we mean by power.

Power is often related to our ability to make others do what we want, regardless of their own wishes or interests (Weber, 1946). Traditional social science emphasizes power as influence and control, often treating power as a commodity or structure divorced from human action (Lips, 1991). Conceived in this way, power can be viewed as unchanging or unchangeable. Weber (1946) gives us a key word beyond this limitation by recognizing that power exists within the context of a relationship between people or things. Power does not exist in isolation nor is it inherent in individuals. By implication, since power is created in relationships, power and power relationships can change. Empowerment as a process of change, then, becomes a meaningful concept.

A brief exercise makes the importance of this discussion clear. Quickly, list three words that immediately come to mind when you hear the word power. For most people, words that come to mind when we think about power often revolve around control and domination. Focusing on these aspects of power limit our ability to understand and define empowerment.

The concept of empowerment also depends upon power that can expand, our second stated requirement. Understanding power as zero-sum, as something that you get at my expense, cuts most of us off from power. A zero-sum conception of power means that power will remain in the hands of the powerful unless they give it up. Although this is certainly one way that power can be experienced, it neglects the way power will remain in the hands of the powerful unless they give it up. Although this is certainly one way that power is experienced, it neglects the way power is experienced in most interactions. Another brief exercise highlights the importance of a definition of power that includes expansion. Answer the question; "Have you ever felt powerful?" Was it at someone's expense? Was it with someone else?

Grounded in an understanding that power will be seen and understood differently by people who inhabit various positions in power structures (Lukes, 199 4), contemporary research on power has opened new perspectives that reflect aspects of power that are not zero-sum, but are shared. Feminists (Miller, 1976; Starhawk, 1987), members of grassroots organizations (Bookman & Morgen, 1984), racial and ethnic groups (Nicola-McLaughlin & Chandler, 1984), and even individuals in families bring into focus another aspect of power, one that is characterized by collaboration, sharing and mutuality (Kreisberg, 1992).

Researchers and practitioners call this aspect of power "relational power"(Lappe & DuBois, 1994), generative power (Korten, 1987), "integrative power," and "power with" (Kreisberg, 1992).This aspect means that gaining power actually strengthens the power of others rather than diminishing it such as occurs with domination/power. Kreisberg has suggested that power defined as "the capacity to implement" (Kreisberg, 1992:57) is broad enough to allow power to mean domination, authority, influence, and shared power or "power with." It is this definition of power, as a process that occurs in relationships, that gives us the possibility of empowerment.

Understanding Empowerment

Empowerment is a construct shared by many disciplines and arenas: community development, psychology, education, economics, and studies of social movements and organizations, among others. How empowerment is understood varies among these perspectives. In recent empowerment literature, the meaning of the term empowerment is often assumed rather than explained or defined. Rappoport (1984) has noted that it is easy to define empowerment by its absence but difficult to define in action as it takes on different forms in different people and contexts. Even defining the concept is subject to debate. Zimmerman (1984) has stated that asserting a single definition of empowerment may make attempts to achieve it formulaic or prescription-like, contradicting the very concept of empowerment.

A common understanding of empowerment is necessary, however, to allow us to know empowerment when we see it in people with whom we are working, and for program evaluation. According to Bailey (1992), how we precisely define empowerment within our projects and programs will depend upon the specific people and context involved.

As a general definition, however, we suggest that empowerment is a multi-dimensional social process that helps people gain control over their own lives. It is a process that fosters power (that is, the capacity to implement) in people, for use in their own lives, their communities, and in their society, by acting on issues that they define as important.

We suggest that three components of our definition are basic to any understanding of empowerment. Empowerment is multi-dimensional, social, and a process. It is multi-dimensional in that it occurs within sociological, psychological, economic, and other dimensions. Empowerment also occurs at various levels, such as individual, group, and community. Empowerment, by definition, is a social process, since it occurs in relationship to others. Empowerment is a process that is similar to a path or journey, one that develops as we work through it. Other aspects of empowerment may vary according to the specific context and people involved, but these remain constant. In addition, one important implication of this definition of empowerment is that the individual and community are fundamentally connected.

Interconnection of Individuals and Community

Wilson (1996) pointed out that recently, more researchers, organizers, politicians and employers recognize that individual change is a prerequisite for community and social change and empowerment (Speer & Hughey, 1995; Florin and Wandersman, 1990; Chavis & Wandersman, 1990). This does not mean that we can point the finger at those with less access to power, telling them that they must change to become more like "us" in order to be powerful/successful. Rather, individual change becomes a bridge to community connectedness and social change (Wilson, 1996).

To create change we must change individually to enable us to become partners in solving the complex issues facing us. In collaborations based on mutual respect, diverse perspectives, and a developing vision, people work toward creative and realistic solutions. This synthesis of individual and collective change (Wilson, 1996; Florin & Wandersman, 1990; Speer & Hughey, 1995) is our understanding of an empowerment process. We see this inclusive individual and collective understanding of empowerment as crucial in programs with empowerment as a goal. It is in the critical transition, or interconnection, between the individual and the communal, or social, that programs such as ours, People Empowering People, can be invaluable for people and communities.

Empowerment and PEP

The People Empowering People (PEP) program uses the definition of empowerment to connect research, theory, and practice. The Connecticut PEP program builds on theory of critical adult education developed by Friere (1970), Horton (1989), and others. PEP focuses on the strengths of people, providing opportunities and resources for people to gain experiences and skills while they also gain control over their lives.

Underlying this process is mutual respect between participants, facilitators, advisory committee members, and others involved in the program. PEP opens to participants the recognition of their own values and beliefs, and encourages expression of their own issues as they define them. The focus is on the connection between individual action and community action, encouraging individual change through training sessions and discussions, and supporting community action through participants' efforts to change their communities. While we cannot give people power and we cannot make them "empowered," we can provide the opportunities, resources and support that they need to become involved themselves.

In conclusion, we see empowerment as a multi-dimensional social process that helps people gain control over their own lives. It is a process that fosters power in people for use in their own lives, their communities, and in their society by acting on issues that they define as important. In PEP as in Extension we strive to teach people skills and knowledge that will motivate them to take steps to improve their own lives -- to be empowered.

References

Bailey, D. (1992). Using participatory research in community consortia development and evaluation: lessons from the beginning of a story. American Sociologist, 23 (4), 71-82.

Bookman, A., & Morgen, S. (Eds.). (1984). Women and the politics of empowerment. Philadelphia: Temple University Press.

Chavis, D., & Wandersman, A. (1990). Sense of community in the urban environment: A catalyst for participation and community development. American Journal of Community Psychology, 18 (1), 55-81.

Florin, P., & Wandersman, A. (1990).An introduction to citizen participation, voluntary organizations, and community development: insights for empowerment through research. American Journal of Community Psychology, 18(1), 41-54.

Friere, P. (1970). Pedagogy of the oppressed. Translated by M.B. Ramos. New York: Seabury Press.

Horton, A. (1989). The Highlander Folk School: A history of its major programs. Brooklyn, NY: Carlson Publishers.

Korten, D.E. (1987). Community management. West Hartford, CT: Kumarian Press.

Kreisberg, S. (1992). Transforming power: Domination, empowerment, and education. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press.

Lappe, F.M., & Dubois, P.M. (1994). The quickening of America: Rebuilding our nation, remaking our lives. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass,Inc. Publishers.

Lips, H. (1991). Women, men and power. Mountain View, CA: Mayfeld.

Lukes, S. (1994). Power: A radical view. London: Macmillan Press Ltd.

Miller, J.B. (1976).Toward a new psychology of women. Boston: Beacon Press.

Nicola-McLaughlin, A., & Chandler, Z. (1984; 180-201). Urban politics in the higher education of black women: A case study. In Bookmen & Morgen (Eds.). Women and the politics of empowerment. Philadelphia: Temple University Press.

Rapport, J. (1984). Studies in empowerment: Introduction to the issue. Prevention in Human Services, 3, 1-7.

Speer, P.W., & Hughey, J. (1995). Community organizing: An ecological route to empowerment and power. American Journal of Community Psychology, 23 (5), 729-748.

Starhawk (1987). Truth or dare. San Francisco: Harper and Row.

Weber, M. (1946). From Max Weber. H.H. Gerth & C.W. Mills (Eds.). New York: Oxford University Press.

Wilson, P. (1996). Empowerment: Community economic development from the inside out. Urban Studies, 33(4-5), 617-630.

Zimmerman, M.A. (1984). Taking aim on empowerment research: On the distinction between individual and psychological conceptions. American Journal of Community Psychology, 18(1), 169-177.

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Empowerment: What Is It?

We all know that women are different than men from our bodies, brains, and hormones to our emotional demands and daily challenges. Weve walked a very different journey over the past 10,000 years, with an explosion of duality occuring over the past 100 years and because of it, we need specialized programs developed exclusively for usto heal, to learn, to grow, and toexpand our lives and our consciousness. To heal our wounds, make peace with our past, and to move forward with love and joy.

The S.W.A.T. Institute is committed to bringing the most cutting-edge interventions, processes, and transformational techniques to women worldwide! Our premier designation is our Master Empowerment Coach Certification (MECC).

Created for the life-long learner (the woman dedicated to self-actualization as well as improving the lives of others), the Master Empowerment Coach Certification is everything youve always wanted in a coaching certification and more!

Academic, emotional, and mystical, we combine science with spirituality, Western with Eastern, all the while taking women on a journey of the Selfunderstanding how we interrelate, communicate, and navigate our way in the world.

Incredibly healing, motivating, and empowering, this program will lead you into the greatest expression of who you are! Divided into three modules, we cover every single aspect of empowerment: physically, emotionally, financially, mentally, relationally and spiritually.

We have women enrolled from all over the worldsome who are fresh out of university, all the way to the 60+-year-old woman who has no post-secondary education but who knows her life and wisdom matters.

We empower all women from all walks of life! We are the next era of the womens movement and we are dedicated to our global coalition for women!

I began training at The S.W.A.T. Institute with a particular idea of what it was and it has BLOWN me away by being a millions times more and deeper than I ever imagined! I feel so connected here and so honored to know all of you and share my journey alongside my SiSTARS!

~ Donna Minzes Johnson

Our Master Empowerment Coach Certification has a faculty that is first-class! Students have an opportunity to learn from some of the most empowered teachers, authors, and leaders in the world today: Louise Hay, Marianne Williamson, Dr. Christiane Northrup, Colette Baron-Reid, Crystal Andrus Morissette, Sandra Anne Taylor, Gregg Braden, and more.

Our lifelong sisterhood of encouragement and inspiration is mind-blowing; a safe place to explore yourself, while learning the empowerment coaching process! The S.W.A.T. Institute is the cream of the crop!

I am very happy to say that I am a recent graduate of the Simply Woman Accredited Trainer Institute. I first came upon the founder, Crystal Andrus Morissette, about 3 years ago. I was completely drawn in when I saw her video on this website; I knew this program was exactly what I had been looking for. It really resonated with me.

I also knew I had a gift for listening and creating that space for others but I did not want to take just any three-day life-coaching program!! The S.W.A.T. Institutes Master Empowerment Coach Certifications curriculum is brilliant; it gave me all the tools I needed to become an excellent empowerment coach.

The best part about this program is that I had to deal with my own stuff in order to be able to authentically help other women. I was able to heal my inner child, take off masks that kept the real me hidden from myself and my loved ones. I discovered what my limiting beliefs were and how I was putting up my own road blocks in all areas of my life. Learning self-love and self-compassion has also allowed me to expand into the greatest version of who I am. This is a love that continuously flows outwards to my family, loved ones, and in every other relationship.

The S.W.A.T. siSTARhood another magnificent component exclusively to this program is an online supportive community that provided me a safe space to voice my feelings, my anger, and my fearsall without judgment.

Another important component of this certification is the Mentorship Coaching program. I had the privilege to coach women from all over the world India, United States, New Zealand, Australia, and Canada. I also was able to receive coaching from my peers women from all over the world!

Even now that I have graduated, I still have access to all this and more like the continuous education that is offered. By choosing to take this program I have realized that it is truly the best investment I have made for myself.

I would say that if you hear and trust that little intuitive voice inside and you are ready to heal, to feel whole, and want to help women on a global levelthis program is for you! Enjoy the journey, stay the courseyou are so worth it!

~ Michele Dallaire

Your body is your vehicle for being; when its not working properly its fairly certain that nothing in your life will work properly either. The first module, Building the Temple, is the most academic of all three modules because it is imperative that our coaches understand the connection between body, mind, and spirit.

The body is the messenger, showing us when things are out of alignment. Designed to teach you the fundamentals of womens health and wellness, this module will give you a comprehensive understanding of the workings of the body and mind. Learning from brilliant women such as Dr. Christiane Northrup, Dr. Mona Lisa Schultz, Beverly Pickard, Priya Sharma, as well asRegistered Dietitian, Certified Diabetes Educator and The Dean of our school, Yvonne MacRae, you will be amazed at your new-found knowledge and education of Nutrition, Exercise Physiology, Fitness, Weight loss, Mental health, Psychology, and Womens health & wellness.

The extraordinary part is the consistent and steady feedback from your Professors on all your assignments, helping you to understand the intricacies of your body and mind that will energize and invigorate you! Your knowledge and expertise will excite and motivate both you and your coaching clients!

Once you power through this first module, you are well on your way to tackling, perhaps, the most exciting part of the program, Module Two: The Empowerment Process.

Before I met Crystal Andrus Morissette and her work, the field of coaching and self-growth was a mystery for me.

With my PhD in Microbiology and Natural Sciences and as a professional athlete (I competed in two Olympic games), I have been taught that our reality is determined by our five senses and that life just happens to us.

Crystals coaching had really shaken my way of approaching life. I realized that we create our reality with our thoughts, emotions, and beliefs, and that every year some additional layers are accumulated on our pure and authentic spirit. I realized that only I am in charge of my life. She helped me to find out who I really am, what my needs are and deep desires are, along with what fears are preventing me from having the life of my dreams. Starting to speak my truth has had a big impact on my life.

I didnt have any expectations before starting with Crystal but I was amazed the gentle way she guides you through this process. Personal transformation just happened in such a natural way. I realized how my relationship with others transformed when I changed the way I was thinking and I speaking to myself.

~ Dr. Klara Maucec, PhD, 2-time Olympic Competitor, S.W.A.T.Master Empowerment Coach

Learning directly from our Founder, Crystal Andrus Morissette and Professor Izabela Viskupova, as well as other guest faculty members such as Louise Hay, Gregg Braden, Colette Baron-Reid, Sandra Anne Taylor, and Marianne Williamson, Module Two is where you learn, step-by-step, what empowered communication looks, sounds, and feels like in every aspect of life.

Using Dr. David Hawkins Map of Consciousness as a guideline to understanding emotional empowerment, along with listening to many of past recorded real coaching calls and watching video lectures explaining the healing interventions, empowering meditations, and coaching processes needed to shift someone from shame and guilt, up through blame, grieving, fear, desire, anger and pride into courage, willingness, and love, this module takes you through every aspect of understanding your Self and your life (the choices youve made and why youve made them), while also teaching you how to coach other women through their struggles and self-limiting beliefs.

Module Two, Section Two opens you up to the Mentorship Coaching Program, where you will work in tandem with Professor Izabela Viskupova who is not only a graduate of our Master Empowerment Coach Certification, she has a Masters Degree in both Law and Psychology. Professor Izabela is dedicated to helping you conquer our unique and specialized coaching process as you practice your skills with women that we provide you to coach; she has created a series of magnificent lectures and videos outlining specific coaching interventions and why and how you will use them when coaching others. She spends time listening to your practice Mentorship Calls and then together you will critique them to master your weakness and catapult on your strengths!

By the time you enter Module Three, your confidence, courage, and skill-set will blow you away!

The final modulealso known as the Business Behind the Businessteaches smart, savvy, successful marketing strategies that will challenge you to perform at your highest level. Every topic is designed to turn your higher purpose into a high profiting business.

The BBB will teach you everything you need to know about how to create and sustain a successful coaching practice, including media, marketing, speaking, and developing your own courses or teleseminars. No stone unturned, Professor Elizabeth Gorostiza (our very first graduate) works directly with you in developing your own successful business plan and website. Plus, you can listen to a series of calls held by Crystal Andrus Morissette that cover topics such as Success Consciousness vs. Failure Consciousnes, The Clearer You Are the Clearer Your Client Will Be, How Much Money Do You Want To Make, How to Network and Build a Mastermind Group, What are Your Seeds of Desire, What Do You Think Youre Worth, Be Your Authentic Self in Business, Find Sponsorship & Partnership, The Art of Negotiation and Compromise, and The Time to Plant and The Time to Harvest just to name a few! The overflow of information, education and enlightenment is incredible!

Again, youll get consistent and steady feedback from your Professor on all your assignments and quizzes, helping you to understand the intricacies of your business in a way you never could on your own.

The S.W.A.T. Institute has become a place where we siSTARs have become family with the love and support from our founder, Crystal Andrus Morissette. Some of us come broken, looking for help to heal our wounded selves; this is a place where we are all able to grow and heal.

Through this course, we not only learn how to empower other women, we learn how to love ourselves, to overcome our hardships, and become the women we were truly meant to be.

Through it all, we learn to coach other women and help them overcome their struggles as we empower them to be their own greatest good.

If you want to really learn how to love your Self and to be happy again, join The S.W.A.T. Institutes Master Empowerment Coach Certification program! You wont be disappointed our family offers love, education, and support!

~ Annamay Leason

Every Tuesday, Crystal Andrus Morissette answers your questions and offers you strategies to your own challenges during a live call! You can write in or chat with her directly on the phone or Skype. Plus, you have two other opportunities each week to chat live with Professor Izabela and our Student Advisors! No matter where you live in the world, you will feel like you are close by, connected to, and supported by our entire institute. We are women empowering women!

Our Mentorship Coaches have all graduated from their Empowerment Coach Training at The S.W.A.T. Institute and are beginning to build their own coaching practice. Before they can graduate they must complete 30 practice hours. Our coaches have spent countless hours learning the empowerment process and this is the perfect way for them to refine their skills while women around the world get the support and empowerment they need at no charge. Its a true giveback and a beautiful win-win! Plus, our Mentorship Coaching Program offers our students and graduates lifelong coaching at no charge. Thats right! You have a slew of brilliant coaches at your fingertips, whenever you need a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on, or some kick-ass advice! Click here to learn more!

One of the most unique and special aspects of The S.W.A.T. Institute is our private forum where our students or as we call them siSTARs connect with, share, care, and support each other. No matter what is going on in their lives, each woman gets the loving advice, feedback, validation, and support she needs. We truly are a global coalition of empowered women!

The Crystal Club is a post-graduate program that focuses on each Master Graduates individual business, along with group collaborations on Simply Woman Retreats, Magazine articles, TeleSummits, Events, and Courses; we promote to our entire database through webinars, teleseminars, and broadcasts, including featured spots in our SimplyWomanMagazine.

Pursuing my S.W.A.T. Master Empowerment Coach Certification has been the most rewarding investment of my life. As a student approaching the end of the program, I would recommend this course to every woman. I began with the intent of enhancing my personal life for the benefit of myself and my family. Like taking a degree in me, the entire course has helped me to truly know my body, mind, heart, and soul; surpassing my expectations and giving me everything I need to navigate my one wild and precious life.

Much to my surprise, Ive also discovered that coaching perfectly aligns with my professional dreams, so Im now taking the leap to become a coach. I believe the coaching and business skills taught, in such a spirit of wisdom and generosity, are all that I need to launch a thriving coaching practice.

I have received more from this program than I have from any other educational investment, including my university degree, leadership certification, and professional training. The books, resources, assignments, videos, calls, mentorship coaching, on-line forums, practice coaching and professor interaction all equate to a life-changing and incomparable opportunity.

Ill admit these sound like lofty promises, but for me they have all been true, and I am forever grateful.

~Nicole Moorey

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The Master Empowerment Coach Certification - The S.W.A.T ...

A woman in love with life A woman who owns the wisdom, sensuality, and power of her own body A woman who passionately lives the life she was born to live A woman who sees the radiance in every woman, and the strengths in every man A woman who attracts love and depth because her heart would not tolerate anything less A woman who nourishes her body like shes nourishing the Earth A woman who owns her real beauty and the courage it took to get there

This is the era of the Feminine. As women coming into our own, we are discovering our own true path to light up our lives. But often times its difficult, as we feel the emotional blocks, the financial stresses, and the physical limitations of our bodies, especially as we get older. We are all born to be leaderswhether you are a mother, a sister, an executive, a teacher, a coach, an entrepreneur, an activist.whatever you areYou know you deserve to have your own personal form of ecstasy: YOUR LIFE. As Feminine leaders, we design our own blueprint for success in our work, our relationships, and in our world. A Feminine Feast is devoted in helping you turn effort into ease, and possibility into reality.the womans way What is the Feminine? Being in your Feminine means manifesting a life of happiness through connection, intuition, feeling, receptivity, and openness in the heart and body. Being in our Feminine means knowing our deeper gifts as a woman, and empowering one another by the giving of our gifts. In this, we recognize the beauty of every womans unique soul and legacy, and transform the world for each other.through each other. At a Feminine Feast, we are dedicated to your true unfolding as the woman you long to benot by any body elses expectationsnot by societal standards, but by what makes you truly happyphysically, emotionally, and spiritually. We know what its like to be a woman in this day and age, and we are devoted in giving you the support you need to have the body and life you wantYOUR way. Let this year be your year of unstoppable breakthroughs, manifestation, and love!

For over 12 years, Sabrina has helped thousands of women discover their individual imprint as a woman, helping them live an embodied life of vitality, radiance, and transformation. Through the lucid and intricate weaving of womens spirituality, psychology, sensuality, and nutrition, Sabrina has pioneered a potent path for awakening the powerful YOU that longs to be unleashed in the world. Touted by San Franciscos premier magazine, 7X7, as a woman changing the rules, Sabrina will help you uncover your blind spots, turn them into resources, and amp up your happiness meter to a TEN, by customizing to your busy lifestyle and budget. So whether youre a business owner, an inspiring leader, a single lady, a mom, or a sister on this pathyoure about to learn innovative but effective secrets that will magnify your gifts, bloom your life, and catapult your unique womanly brilliance.

Sign up in the box located in the upper right-side of this page. You will receive bi-weekly gems of wisdom, inspirational and practical tips, and up-to-date info that will help transform your life into an extraordinary life. You will also have access to discounts and free advice on manifesting the body and life of your dreams. In addition, you will receive a free copy of my audio, Getting Your Sexy On, an insightful and practical way of balancing your hormone and mood circuits, and cultivating your inner temptress, no matter what your age and despite any doubts you may have about yourself. Do browse our Programs and Services and our Events Calendar to see what goodies are available to address your particular needs and meet your deepest desires. As always, feel free to Contact My Team if you have any questions.

Love,

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Sabrina Chaw - Women's Wellness & Empowerment Coach