Reclaim Your Power in 11 Steps

Sometimes, life can seem out of control. It seems as if we are constantly fighting fires, solving one issue after another. And before we know it, years have passed by. We haven't made any progress on our goals and dreams and worse yet are realizing that we haven't been doing what we love. If you are in this situation, then you know what it is to lose your power. You know what it feels to be just surviving and not thriving. If you've been living like this for some time and are struggling to navigate your life on your own terms, then we are here to help. Here are a few tips to reclaim your power:

Change your thoughts

Are you constantly thinking negatively? Did you know that your thoughts shape your reality and your life? If you've been thinking negatively for years now, without realizing it, you have been in the vicious circle of creating negative experiences for yourself. If you are asking yourself, "why does this happen to me?" or "Why does this issue keep cropping up?", you have been attracting more of those issues in your life. You need to change your thought patterns and switch to positive self-talk.

Try something new

If you are stuck in a routine, then you need to do this. While predictability is good for us, spontaneity is also important. When was the last time you did something that you don't do usually? When did you go on a vacation and take that time off? If it has been a while then you need to take the time off. This will help you in looking at things from a different perspective. Many times, when we look at our own lives from afar, we instantly see what needs to change and why. It is that easy.

Stop living in the past

We often live in our past. Obsessing over what we've lost and how people have wronged us in our lives. We live life trying to avoid the same pain by literally reliving it each day. Instead of focusing on what we have, we cry over what we've lost and what is not. If you've been replaying your past over and over again, then you need to heal those wounds. That is the only way forward.

Practice Meditation

Meditation will and mindfulness will help you with all of the above steps. There is a reason why millions of doctors, researchers, and historic texts claim meditation to be that silver bullet that can change our lives. Because it is that powerful when practiced consistently. I know what you are thinking. You are thinking of a monk sitting still for years on a mountain. And that's what you think meditation is. But it is very different than what you have in mind. There are hundreds of ways to practice meditation and mindfulness. If you don't know where to start, begin here.

Accept failure

If you have been in a stupor because of a failure, it's about time you acknowledge it. Healing only begins when you accept the outcome. If you have been in denial, then this is the first thing you need to do. Accept the reality that you are in. Don't run from it. Begin the healing process. If you don't know how to go about it, then start here.

Find your purpose

Maybe you just haven't found your why in life. Maybe you are still searching for your higher calling. The reason you are here. If that is the case, then it's time to find your course of life and start on the journey of your life. We often put a lot of pressure when we are trying to find our purpose. We feel that it needs to be perfect and that one chosen path. But that's not true. Your purpose in life can be as big or as small as you want it to be. And it can change throughout life. Don't try to get it right the first time. It leads to inaction on our part and delays us from experiencing a life of meaning.

Work on your health

Our minds and our bodies have an intimate connection, they influence each other in ways that are not possible for science to explain just yet. So if you are not in a good place emotionally and mentally, you can hack your mood by working on your physical body. Years of research have shown that when we work out, we produce happy hormones that make us feel good. By taking care of our bodies and eating right, we ensure that we are not using food as an emotional crutch. Take care of your body and it will help you stay positive and happy. It will also help you in gaining a sense of control over yourself, if not your life.

Invest in your relationships

We are social beings. We thrive in the company of others and we need others to live our lives effectively. If you have been busy, and life has been crazy, it's quite likely that your social life has also suffered. If that is the case, then it's time you invest some time and effort in your relationships. Here are some suggestions to get you started.

Give up

We know this may seem contradictory to everything you've heard before. But sometimes, you need to give up things and people that are just not working for you. Sometimes, our workplace, our homes, our school, or our friends become so toxic that thriving in an environment like that becomes impossible. If your efforts to reconcile the situation have not worked so far, it's about time that you give up. It's about time that you focus on building something new instead of fixing something that cannot be fixed.

Increase your productivity

If taking a break and looking at things from a different perspective have not helped so far, then it's time to double down on becoming more productive. It is likely that you don't have an optimal time and project management system to get you to achieve your life goals. Remember that being productive is very different than being busy. Just because you are busy does not mean that you are productive (=getting things done).

Care for the inner child

Many issues and insecurities that we have today are a result of our childhood experiences. Even if we've had a relatively happy childhood, it can influence our thinking and behavior in a big way. Many times, the thinking patterns ad behaviors are so ingrained in us that we do not even realize that we are doing something subconsciously. Taking the time to heal our childhood trauma and caring for our inner child can go a long way in removing some of our resistance. If you are feeling blocked in certain areas of life but are not able to point out why then healing your childhood is a good start.

There are many ways to reclaim your power, we've listed some starting points in this article. Even if you are able to practice a few of them, you will be well on your way to feeling in control of your life again.

If there are any other ways of reclaiming the power that has worked for you in the past, then we'd like to hear from you. Please let us know in the comments - what has helped you in the past? Which one of the ideas listed above resonates with you the most?