Power Moves

Don't let people-pleasing steal your uniqueness. Don't let rejection steal your creativity. Don’t let fear steal your ambition.

1. Recognizing Energy Drains

Life operates like a parking lot with different spots representing areas such as leadership, relationships, or health. Some of these areas run smoothly, while others sputter, making us feel drained. Identifying where we lose energy is vital because avoiding these areas won’t refill the tank.

The only way to replenish power in these areas is by nurturing yourself. Basic needs like rest, healthy habits, and spiritual connection must be prioritized, yet they’re often the first to be sacrificed. Skipping these essentials may seem small, but they snowball over time and impact other parts of life.

Sometimes, these energy drains come from unhealthy relationships. A bond that exists only when you’re overextended isn’t functional; it’s controlling. Reclaiming your energy means cutting off people, habits, or routines that diminish you to fit their mold of who they think you should be.

Examples

• Ignoring personal health for work but feeling burnt out in the long term.
• Feeling exhausted in a friendship where only one side makes an effort.
• Giving up creative pursuits because of a fear of judgment.

2. The Role of Self-Imposed Limits

One reason power slips away is self-limitation. We impose restrictions through thoughts like, "I could never do that" or "I’m not good enough." These may echo past fears, but they block current growth opportunities.

This limiting mentality sneaks into our most personal dreams. Instead of seeing desires as fuel for growth, we dismiss them under the false belief that they’re unattainable. However, those heartfelt dreams align with divine intentions—they’re planted in us for a reason.

The antidote? Treat those desires as sacred and worth pursuing. Trust that any longing that remains in your heart has a purpose and that the potential to fulfill it already resides within you.

Examples

• Not pursuing a career change even though the thought excites you.
• Fearing public speaking despite a calling to inspire others.
• Avoiding sharing creative work because you think it’s not "good enough."

3. Breaking Free from Comfort Zones

Comfort zones feel safe but are built by past trauma, keeping you from venturing out into risks that could yield growth. While they protect against perceived threats, they also stifle aspirations.

Change begins by recognizing outdated systems of behavior driving these zones. For instance, a need to avoid conflict might stem from a childhood marked by emotional volatility, but clinging to that strategy in adulthood could limit intimacy and authentic connections.

True growth isn’t possible while holding onto safety nets rooted in survival rather than growth. Updating these systems equips you for risks aligned with your greater purpose.

Examples

• Avoiding dating because of past heartbreaks while desiring connection.
• Sticking to a stable job that doesn’t fulfill you due to fear of failure.
• Avoiding leadership roles due to fear of criticism.

4. Aligning with Your Core Values

The personal pantry analogy reveals how ingrained systems guide us. Just as a broke student eats ramen noodles out of necessity, outdated mental systems could be feeding your current habits rather than nourishing growth.

To align with aspirational goals, you first need to restock the "pantry" with new beliefs, habits, and actions. Each core value in your heart must translate into intentional actions, creating harmony between ideals and daily life.

Revisit dysfunctional systems by reflecting on past powerlessness. What repeated behaviors led there? Updating that system can lead to breakthroughs.

Examples

• Shifting from prioritizing others' happiness to setting personal boundaries.
• Replacing procrastination with disciplined habits.
• Moving from avoidance of conflict to constructive communication.

5. The Transformative Power of Faith

Feeling powerless often stems from forgetting or doubting your inherent worth. Embracing faith can bridge that gap by grounding you in unconditional love and divine support, no matter your external achievements.

Faith also allows you to redefine chaos as potential. Much like how an artist sees raw material in a mess, viewing struggles as opportunities for divine work reframes your mindset.

To nurture faith, spend quiet time in prayer or reflection. This connection offers clarity during life’s harshest moments and anchors you when stepping outside your comfort zone.

Examples

• Using prayer to overcome self-doubt before a big decision.
• Finding peace after losing a job by trusting in future opportunities.
• Letting go of toxic relationships, believing better connections lie ahead.

6. Let Rest Bring You Back to Power

The culture of constant productivity glorifies doing over being. True strength, though, sometimes means stepping back and resting. Power isn’t in outdoing others but being truthful to your limits and capacities.

Moments of rest allow reflection and resetting. Even God rested after creating the universe—not out of weakness, but fullness. Aligning rest with your inner needs consolidates energy and renews perspective.

Ask questions like, "When should I fight?" or "When should I let go?" Resting in divinity's guidance during indecision prevents burnout and regret.

Examples

• Taking a day off to reset rather than powering through exhaustion.
• Saying "no" to an opportunity for the sake of mental well-being.
• Pausing during a conflict to reflect before responding aggressively.

7. Defining Your Personal Power

Your power looks different in various roles—be it as a friend, leader, parent, or partner. Adjusting to each role and defining power based on your authentic self ensures you're aligning with what serves you best.

Avoid mimicking others or relying on external validation. Allow power to reflect adaptability, not rigid dominance. When life demands different "hats," you can bring all your roles into harmony.

Authenticity shines when you craft roles that feel true to your values. Define strength in how you operate rather than comparisons against others' successes.

Examples

• Presenting assertiveness at work but tenderness with loved ones.
• Redefining success as balance instead of endless achievement.
• Making decisions without the need for approval from peers.

8. Honoring Rest as Progress

Rest isn’t idleness; it’s recognition of your humanity. In a world that values hustle, daring to take breaks can feel radical yet essential for longevity and inner alignment.

Understanding when to stop gives you time to consolidate energy and prioritize well-being. Avoid reacting prematurely to decisions clouded by anxiety and instead trust divine timing.

Incorporate rest as not just a physical state but a mental grace where worries can dissolve. Rest invites wisdom and balance into life’s marathon, ensuring you last through every leg.

Examples

• Rebounding from setbacks stronger after giving yourself grace to recover.
• Practicing mindfulness instead of overplanning each moment.
• Trusting intuition during uncertain paths rather than rushing toward outcomes.

9. God’s Guidance in Everyday Life

Life’s complexities and challenges shouldn’t push you further from divine connection. Maintaining an open heart allows you to receive grace through unexpected moments—acts of kindness, small miracles, or simply quiet time in prayer.

God’s presence provides a compass when moving outside comfort zones. Even mundane or frustrating experiences can reflect divine timing and lessons when seen through a spiritual lens.

Rather than fight for control, ask divinity for clarity. Such openness fosters patience and hope as life presents new paths aligned with purpose.

Examples

• Reflecting on failures as detours rather than dead ends.
• Seeking out spiritual practices that bring calm amidst chaos.
• Recognizing beauty in everyday miracles, like a stranger’s smile.

Takeaways

1. Take note of any areas in life where you feel drained or stuck, then explore how you can refill your "tank" in practical ways like rest, boundaries, or healthy habits.
2. Rewrite at least one limiting belief rooted in fear into an empowering belief rooted in connection and faith. Act on it through small, deliberate choices.
3. Schedule daily or weekly moments for quiet reflection or prayer to deepen your connection with your authentic self and divine purpose.