11 Signs that You Are An Empowered Person

When we heal, we are able to let go of all the trauma, wounds and emotional baggage that controls us and thus became beings that are truly empowered. This goes hand-in-hand, with inner peace and inner freedom and being comfortable with exactly who and how we are. To be truly empowered is about knowing your answers come from inside… from a place of love, compassion, and no judgement. These are the foundations of all our Reiki teachings and through Reiki healing we heal those aspects of ourselves that prohibit us from standing and living in our power.

Gary Zukav puts this concept of becoming empowered in much better words than I can. He says “An authentically empowered person is humble. This does not mean the false humility of one who stoops to be with those who are below him or her. It is the inclusiveness of one who responds to the beauty of each soul… It is the harmlessness of one who treasures, honours, and reveres life in all its forms.” Again, the essence of Reiki!

So, what are the characteristics of a truly empowered person? It is someone who…

1. Fully knows and accepts who and how they are and stands comfortably and secure in their power. Being comfortable in their skin supports their sense of self, vitality, and purpose.

2. Does not have a sense of entitlement but is humble, quiet, and gentle, and lives a life of gratitude.

3. Is not a “push-over” but able to set and maintain boundaries whilst being gentle yet firm. In the same breath though, they do not diminish themselves to make others feel less uncomfortable or threatened.

4. Is not defined by culture, society, patriarchal norms, or the media just for the sake of fitting in. They are not a slave to fashion, trends or doing things just to be in the “in crowd.” They define themselves from a space of being healed – accepting, loving, honouring, and respecting themselves.

5. Realises the importance and benefits of self-care and does their self-care as a way of being without feelings of guilt. They realise that self-care is a “have to have” and NOT a “nice to have”.

6. Lives in grace, understanding that grace is a spiritual gift that involves love and forgiveness for themselves and others even when they feel that it is not deserved.

7. Does not live in ignorance but pays attention to their self-development and growth by educating themselves through whichever means resonate with them and ensure that they are informed at all levels… without having a superior attitude and wearing their intellect and knowledge as a “spiritual badge”.

8. Lives a life based of love and compassion rather than a life that is guilt-ridden, and fear based. They are not threatened by others on any physical, intellectual, financial or “status” basis but at the same time they are not domineering or unsympathetic.

9. Takes responsibility for themselves and the life they live. Research shows that a truly empowered person typically does not suffer from depression, anxiety, etc.

10. Knows that their true power comes from within and that who, how and what they are on the inside is what they will attract and manifest on the outside. They embrace their value, talents, and strengths.

11. Knows that no one can take away their inner power or empower them but themselves and therefore they do not live with a victim mentality or wallow in self-pity.

There are many tools that can be used to help you move into an empowered state of being. The foundation of empowerment is knowledge and information and the embodiment thereof as an integral part of your life. Empowerment is not given to you, but you become empowered by what you do with the information you are given and the knowledge you gain. It is an attitude towards your own life and the awareness you have about what the eleven traits mentioned earlier entails. Empowerment is synonymous with authenticity. These two concepts go hand-in-hand – as we become more empowered, we are able to live more authentically and the more authentic we live, the more empowered we become – living fearless, standing in our truth, and trusting the flow of life.

Reiki is fundamentally based on our innate ability to heal body, mind and spirit. So, just by doing our regular Reiki self-healing, we are well on our way to becoming empowered individuals. In addition to this, here are a few other thoughts on how Reiki can support empowerment:

• Doing a Gassho meditation – regularly and/or when you feel the need to do so
• Using the Gokia, i.e., The Five Reiki Precepts as a mantra and practising these Precepts with the intent on a daily basis
• Making use of Reiki breathing techniques

Practicing unconditional love and living a life based on gratitude and being non-judgmental – essentially living a Reiki and heart-centred life, and paying attention to our healing through Reiki, imply that we are not sacrificing our souls to conform to an external and indoctrinated expectation of who, what and how we should be to be acceptable. This is truly empowering… And liberating.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?”
― Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of “A Course in Miracles”

Become empowered through your Reiki practices.
Embrace your power.
Namaste

Article by Thea van der Merwe, Ph.D.

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Thea van der Merwe, Ph. D. is a nationally and internationally trained holistic energy, certified and experienced Master Reiki Practitioner, qualified in Usui Reiki, Reijukido, Karuna® Reiki, Karuna Ki Reiki, Crystal Reiki, and Gendai Reiki. She obtained the title of Shihan (full master/teacher), the highest level in Gendai Reiki Ho. Besides her greatest passion which is Reiki, Thea is also a spiritual shaman, healer, and teacher, offering readings as a way of accessing spiritual guidance. Her journey of personal discovery, growth, and healing started back in 2005 when she was personally in need of healing and searching for something more than what conventional medicine and therapy could provide. Thea is currently nationally and internationally registered with the South African Reiki Masters Association and The Reiki Healing Association respectively – both professional associations for the local and global Reiki communities, working to promote the wide-reaching practice and healing effects of Reiki throughout the world and where the primary philosophy is that together, we can do so much more. You can get into contact with Thea van der Merwe at viterra.co.za, which is her website, and at facebook.com/viterrahealing on Facebook.