Recently I came across a great visual for empowerment “Get out of the backseat and get behind the steering wheel.” When you are in the driver’s seat and want to start moving you have to take action. Turn on the ignition, put the car in drive, and follow the road. If you don’t take those steps you will stand still. It is the driver who has to start the process of getting started.
It takes little energy to stay in the backseat; however, gradually it will lead to feeling stifled. Whenever we settle for less than we are capable off we short change ourselves. It takes energy to get out of the backseat and take responsibility to be in the driver’s seat and choose the path we want to be on. First of all you have to believe that you can change the condition of your life. Secondly, you have to take action to make change happen.
I believe that inside every one of us is a drive that propels us to grow and expect more of ourselves. It is when we ignore this inner voice that we are apt to settle for the backseat. Energy comes from feeling in charge of the direction of our lives. We have to take action in order to create energy for ourselves. For example, we can do that by eating nutritious foods, exercising, getting adequate rest, having positive relationships etc. When we take care of ourselves we become energized and discover that we are no longer in the backseat but instead are in the front seat. There is a new found feeling of empowerment in being able to choose the direction we want our life to take.
