Personal empowerment means taking control of your life. It is about more than just feeling able to do so, though this is an important element.

True personal empowerment requires you to set meaningful goals to identify what you want from life, and then take action to achieve those goals and have more impact over the world around you.

People who are not empowered tend to lack control over what they do. They allow others to make decisions for them—whether spouse, partner, children, managers or colleagues. They often lack confidence in themselves and their decisions, and therefore rely on others. However, these patterns of behavior can be changed and broken by increasing self-awareness and then self-confidence.

What is Personal Empowerment?

At a basic level, the term ’empowerment’ simply means ‘becoming powerful’. Personal empowerment therefore means taking control of your own life, and not allowing others to control it for you.

This sounds simple but, in practice, taking control can be a complicated process.

You need to develop your self-awareness, so that you understand your strengths and weaknesses. You also need an awareness and understanding of your goals—and how these differ from your current position. Achieving your goals may require you to change your behaviors, and even your deeper values and beliefs.