Summary

EMPOWERED is a book that explores the key to freeing the spirit and experiencing authentic fulfillment. The intuitive nature of the heart holds more intelligence than the brain. Once we have access to the full power of the heart, the brain and body align with clear intention.

This book questions societal programming that teaches us that intuition, gut feelings, and emotions should be ignored. It questions the limiting beliefs that teach us to stay stuck in trauma bonds and cycles that feel oppressive. In these situations, fear becomes the emotion that controls us. Obligation and meeting expectations are a weight that robs us of a rich, fulfilling life. The misshapen walls around our heart constructed out of survival must come down. We must practice love.

Love is sunlight on the skin, open chambray blue skies, it is the sound of the ocean—soft, consistent, peaceful. Connecting with the source of love within, we experience true freedom.

Creative self-expression is the alchemy that transforms pain into beauty. It is this story of bravery that encourages others to discover their own unique empowered heart. By enriching ourselves through healing, we encourage others to thrive.

The following chapter excerpts, organized by the main structure of the book, relate to self-reflection, healing, learning, and growing. As we identify and take action, we can choose to integrate new habits. Over time we may feel uplifted by focusing on relationships or experiences that enrich us. These excerpts are intended to encourage alignment with your own true nature, embodied in each one of us uniquely.

The spiritual aspect of the self is an inner guide that leads us toward own own unique fulfillment. The tricky part is working through social conditioning, trauma, and current sense of identity. It is beyond these barriers that we reach our core beliefs. Once we clear away unnecessary noise and make intentional choices aligned with our core beliefs, we experience a life that feels more natural and uplifting. Excerpts from this book are intended for self-reflection and inspiration.

Unit I: Identify— What is Discernment?

What is discernment, and how can we use it to shape our reality?

From Marie Kondo’s guide to tidying to feng shui techniques, we can learn about how our external space influences how we feel. By taking time to evaluate and release what no longer serves us, we curate physical environments that allow contentment, positivity, calm, and optimism—feelings that lead us toward empowerment.

While identifying specific aspects of our physical reality that need attention is a great first step, also consider what part of those aspects we have control over. For example, we can’t control how someone treats us, but we can exert control over how we respond.

By exerting control in various ways— discarding of the physical things that no longer serve us, painting a bathroom, or moving furniture—we signal to our internal self that we are ready for bigger changes. We also become change-agents over our feelings. Instead of feeling overwhelmed with a stuffed closet, we feel proud, calm, even grateful for our possessions. Perhaps you have bigger goals like a trip to Bali, or a promotion at work. Whatever your goal, discernment is the first step.

Unit I: Identify— What is Your Internal Language

How do your internal thoughts and feelings influence the lens in which you experience life? Consider the power of identifying feelings in the moment. That initial feeling of irritation, right—go beyond it. Why are you irritated. You may have to keep asking yourself why until you hit a moment of realization like, “I don’t want this responsibility anymore. It’s taking too much of my energy.”

Once you tune into your internal language, it becomes a road map leading to a more fulfilling future. Turning a simple self-reflection like asking yourself, “how do I want to feel?”; or “does this person feel supportive?”—is an effective way to identify situations that don’t serve you. Making decisions about your physical space, like identifying a chair or sweater that needs to go, may feel obvious when you give a room your attention. It is much more difficult to do that with a negative internal narrative, relationship, or habit.

Once you begin to listen to your feelings in the moment, you realize that situations or people that bring out negative feelings aren’t in alignment with what gives you joy. With practice you can prioritize your peace by honoring those realizations.

Unit II: Edit—What is Intentional Action?

Each day is full of choices—health, career, family. Actions taken today influence our reality tomorrow. While I understand this concept, I think in the past I thought I had plenty of time to “convert,” the actions for work demands, family needs, and daily house chores into actions focused more on my personal passions and dreams. There was a big gorge between the career of an attorney and the life of a world traveler, healer, or artist. I wasn’t sure how to move from the responsibilities I dealt with every day to a place where I felt more emotionally fulfilled.

After my accident I experienced chronic pain due to stress fractures in my cervical spine and severely damaged ligaments in my neck. I also had a brain injury that was very hard to navigate. I was often disoriented, confused, emotionally dysregulated, and in pain. While I was dealing with my injuries, my mom’s breast cancer returned. I watched her fight mounting illness and pain until her death. It was by far the most emotionally and physically painful time in my life.

Shortly after her funeral I turned fifty. Fifty was heavier than other birthdays. Weighted.‍ ‍I began to see time as a gift both expansive and finite. The large expanse of “future,” started to feel less so. I internalized the fragility of life. My physical and mental limits demanded that I abandon my previous habit of doing too much, or doing it all myself.

There was beauty of community and the surge of love that arrived during our most vulnerable moments. Even in those times of great pain and loss, there were moments of deep penetrating joy and moments of healing light. These experiences have forever shaped the way that I see time. The urge to feel more energy, so I can do more still exists.

I think now, the difference is that I have learned to prioritize and honor the dreams that I was putting on a shelf for “someday.” Someday is here. It is now. Now is all we have. It seems mundane, but it is the material that builds the future. It is so powerful that it can rob us of people we love. It is powerful enough to heal. And it is powerful enough to build a bridge to a whole new life.