“When you think everything is someone’s fault you will suffer a lot. When you realize that everything springs only from yourself, you will learn both peace and joy.” – Dalai Lama

“If you don’t become the God of your world you will become the disciple in someone else’s.” – Tyrus Barnes

I know that quote may seem a bit *ouch* to some.

This is a snippet of a longer post from a FB friend. If I am being honest, as a spiritual teacher/mentor/coach, this perfectly sums up my position.

As I reflected on 2022 and set my clear intentions on my work for 2023, I doubled-down on my desire to spread the ideas on the importance of self-empowerment.

What do I mean when I say self-empowerment? Well, for me, it means standing fully in one’s own authority. It is taking ownership of the choices and actions we take in each and every moment. I live from the position that there is no authority higher than my own in every aspect of my life. With that, I don’t get to only take responsibility for my wins, I have to take ownership of my setbacks as well. The good, the bad, the ugly…as the god of my own world, I have to acknowledge, “I created that.”

Self-empowerment requires you to OWN the fact that you are a divine being constantly creating. It forces you to examine what thoughts and actions are incongruent with your stated desires. You are forced to uncover and heal old wounds that created patterns you unconsciously fall into. It seems like a lot, but the truth is once you accept that you are the owner, it empowers you to make shifts from a place of authority. You no longer need permission to heal, to adjust, to be happy.

One of the biggest comfort blankets that being a disciple in someone else’s world gives you is the ability to abdicate responsibility. Unfortunately, it also slows your ability to enjoy a life of joy, ease, and abundance. I offer that you take some time and evaluate the areas that you are the god and those areas where you are the disciple. This is a self-excericse and at the end of it you may realize that you don’t mind the roles and power structures in your life. That is fine as long as whatever role you play in your own life, you are doing it consciously. Journal Prompts – Here are some questions that you can use throughout the year to help you investigate underlying motivations. Remember, the truer you are to yourself, the quicker you get to live your best life.

What areas of my life am I allowing someone else to be the leader?
Is the decision I am making true to the desires of my best self? If no, why am I compelled to value someone else’s desire over my own?
If this thing were to happen, what story(ies) am I telling myself? Is there something in this story that is causing fear or doubt that I need to address?
This choice didn’t turn out how I thought it would. What areas during this process did I doubt my own internal knowing?
I teach a lot of tools and offer a lot of ways to come into alignment with a self-empowered lifestyle. Personally, I use the Akashic Records to help me understand areas in which I have given away my power, why I have given that power away, and ways to reclaim my authority and offer myself forgiveness. You can also use meditation, journaling, energy clearing, somatic practices, etc… I care less about your methods and more about the goal of you taking stock.

Here’s to actualizing success through the POWER OF OWNERSHIP in the year 2023.