February is often thought to be a time for romance because of Valentine’s Day. I’ve been pleased that in the last several years many single people have gotten together to celebrate being single, which can be the most empowering state to be in.

Whether you are in a relationship or not, take a day to love yourself and appreciate who you are. If you are not feeling confident about yourself, try the exercises below because you are worthy of loving yourself first and foremost.

First of all, understand that you do not have to think you are perfect. None of us is perfect. Unfortunately, many times people tend to absorb and remember hurtful or thoughtless things that people have said about them—even those things from childhood that are in no way relevant now. People often remember the hurt and pain, often when they don’t even remember the words. The message they carry is, “You are not enough.”

Unfortunately, people frequently don’t remember, or hear, the kind things that people say about them. Or they sluff the comment off, rather than hold onto it and embrace it. I don’t know each of you who is reading this exercise, but I do know that every one of you is an individual who has some wonderful traits that are valued by others in your life. Acknowledge the positive things people say about you.

Pay attention to what you say when someone compliments you. For example, when someone thanks you for something you’ve done, do you ignore the comment or say, “it was nothing”? Every time you ignore or downplay a compliment you disempower yourself.

Exercise: For 1 month, or 1 week, or 1 day listen to when people thank you, or compliment you. Or compliment you on a job well done. Write down the positive comments to reinforce them. Those are words of praise that make up a large part of who you are.

The person with the potential to know you better than anyone else is yourself. Look at the list of compliments you’ve recorded, and then add other attributes that you know are your strengths. Embrace what is good and wonderful about who you are.

When you love yourself, in spite of your faults, you will find more love in your life. Loving yourself is being an empowered self.

I know from my personal experience how important it is to come from a place of empowerment. Like many of you, I didn’t grow up with a sense of empowerment. Over the years, I’ve learned that I have attributes many people appreciate, and as I’ve acknowledged and embraced those attributes I’ve become more satisfied with life, and I’ve attracted wonderful friends and experiences. I know how important empowerment is.

Years ago when I became an Empowerment Coach, I was attacked on social media by a person who said I couldn’t empower anyone, and she was right. No one can empower you. All any coach can do is to provide tools for the person to build the skills to help her meet her goals. I write this newsletter as your coach. I hope some of it works for you.

This month I created a one-month Empowerment Calendar for February. You can download it here. Let me know what you think about it. Almost every day this past January I’ve posted empowerment suggestions on Facebook; thank you for your comments. In March I’ll continue with messages on Facebook a few times a week.

February Empowerment Calendar

The theme for 2023 is about living your best self. It’s getting in touch with that deep part of you that is the finest of who you are. Below are some tips for getting to that person, in the hope that you can be the ideal of yourself for longer and longer periods. [Read more…]

As we come up to the end of one year and move to the next, it’s important to take a bit of time and decide what you want to take with you into the new year and what you want to leave behind. [Read more…]

A life that focuses on being grateful in the world is a happier, less stressful life. It doesn’t mean that you won’t have moments of doubt or even anger, but focusing on thankfulness will take the steam out of negative feelings. [Read more…]

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This last month Larry and I celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary with our families. Anyone who knows Larry understands why we have been married so long. He’s handsome, funny, intelligent, gentle and kind. [Read more…]

Be aware, responsible and conscious of your own attitudes, actions and beliefs. Take a day to work on each of these. Really observe yourself over a period of a week or a month to become aware of what you like and what you want to change. [Read more…]

This April I will be 75 years old. Years OLD, even though I don’t feel old (most of the time).

It’s been an interesting journey getting here and one I couldn’t even imagine as a kid. I remember having a conversation with a playmate and discussing how long we’d each like to live. I settled on something like the mid-fifties because I figured that I would still be able to be active and presumably in fairly good health. I didn’t have grandparents or other older role models in my life, so I had no concept of what it would be like to be older than my parents. [Read more…]

The world has been sorely challenged over the last several years. Covid, climate challenges and now the war between Ukraine and Russia and a nuclear threat puts the world at the greatest risk it has seen. Each of you has to decide what attention you will give the world’s needs. [Read more…]