The start of spring further brings out the sun, newly budding trees and flowers. This time of year brings to mind thoughts of new beginnings. It’s also the time many people decide to ‘spring clean‘ their homes and vehicles – where everything is thoroughly cleaned.
Aside from spring cleaning our homes, we must also do some thorough cleaning in our internal word (mind and attitude) and behaviors. We must assess how we’re progressing within the 7 key areas of living an empowered life. We must affirm what’s working well and intentionally make necessary changes to areas that we’re not satisfied with.
SPRING CLEAN YOU LIFE!
A frequent and thorough internal evaluation and cleaning of ourselves can further empower us to live the life we need and want.
Living an empowered life involves engaging in positive practices that are affirming to both the self and others.We must consistently implementing the practices that helps be our best selves. We must diligently correct any behaviors or experiences that aren’t matching our needs for creating an empowering and desirable life. It is a daily practice.
Intentionally engaging in an internally focused spring cleaning, ensures we are on course to living the life that brings joy and overall fulfillment, to ourselves and others.
What Are The 21 Action Steps You Can Take To Spring Clean Your Life?
In Brief, The 7 Key Areas To Be An Empowered Woman:
- Empower your Mind – Be diligent with what you internalize and mentally focus.
- Empower your Spirit – Be strong in character and manage emotions.
- Empower your Body – Be caring for your physical being, both inside and out.
- Empower your Dreams – Be definite in what you want and take action to create.
- Empower your Relationships – Be genuine and loving in your connections with others.
- Empower your Finances – Be deliberate with managing money.
- Empower your Impact – Be effective for other people and communities.
7 Key Principles For An Empowered Life
Choose to actively work in these 7 key areas to tap into your power within, and willingly support other women in doing the same.
SPRING CLEAN YOUR THINKING:
1. Write a list of common negative thoughts and create another list that counters each.
2. Obtain images that create joy and place them in various common places.
3. Create a board (physical or digital) of 3-5 empowering quotes that fuels a positive mindset.
SPRING CLEAN YOUR BEING:
4. Identify 3-5 key character traits you want to portray and write “I am” statements illustrating the characteristics (e.g. “I am [insert desired characteristic]”). Post them in places you often use (e.g. bathroom, fridge door, computer screen).
5. Incorporate a spiritual practice in your daily morning routine (e.g. prayer, meditation).
6. Create a practice where you’re regularly eating healthy, exercising and sleeping well.
SPRING CLEAN YOUR ATTITUDE:
7. Create a statement to repeat to yourself as a guide to transform your emotions and actions when you find yourself acting ungrateful or entitled.
8. Create a list of positive experiences you’ve had in the past 3 months – both the big and little things – that made you smile and felt happy.
9. Scan all areas of your life with the guiding question “where did I go wrong and make mistakes?” acknowledge them and create a list of how you’ll immediately act corrective actions (e.g. apologizing to people you wronged).
SPRING CLEAN YOUR RELATIONSHIPS:
10. Go through the contacts list saved in your phone, select people you have not spoken with recently and call them to catch up.
11. Make amends with people you’ve recently experienced conflict with by setting time to meet face-to-face or talk via telephone (should not be done via text) with the intention to fully hear them without quickly jumping into judgement, then express your thoughts and feelings.
12. Review your telephone contacts list on your phone and remove anyone that you no longer consider a friend.
SPRING CLEAN YOUR DREAMS:
13. Create a written list of at least 3 SMART goals of things you want to experience in your professional and personal life.
14. Sign-up for at least one activity that further enhances your professional growth (this also includes stay-at home parents). Select something that improves an area you struggle with.
15. Select at least one activity from your bucket list of things you want to experience, and do it.
SPRING CLEAN YOUR FINANCES:
16. Create a monthly budget that dictates how you will spend your earned income, and often check your progress (e.g on a daily or weekly basis).
17. Contribute money toward your retirement (even if you can only do 1% of your salary, but ideally up to at least the Company Match) through your Company and/or a Roth IRA account.
18. Complete your annual taxes and send it by the deadline, or request an extension.
SPRING CLEAN YOUR IMPACT:
19. Sign-up with at least one volunteering opportunity in your community.
20. Identify one action that you will intentionally practice every day that pushes you to often consider the needs of others (e.g. holding the door for people behind you).
21. Find at least one non-profit agency you like their mission and make a one-time or recurring financial donation.
Please share: What practices do you have in place to help you feel empowered?
So, ask yourself:
What am I doing to live an empowered life?
How can I further enhance my practices?
