Women’s Empowerment In Difficult Times

Finding empowerment in difficult times is one of the best skills you can ever develop.

Millions of women right now are feeling totally helpless. They’re drowning in responsibility at work, struggles with domesticity, and feeling as though their voices are not being heard. 

So, if you have been feeling sick of not having enough confidence or self-love, keep reading. These are some great tips for empowerment for women, and why it matters so much. 

A helpful empowerment definition 

According to Dictionary.com, empowerment is: 

  1. the giving or delegation of power or authority; authorization 
  2. the giving of an ability; enablement or permission 

What does this mean for women?  

Well, empowerment is not really something someone can give to us. Sure, bosses can offer promotions, spiritual communities can offer leadership opportunities, etc. 

But that is all meaningless unless we accept and OWN it. Ultimately, true empowerment is up to us. It begins with society giving us better opportunities, but can only come to fruition through us. 

Why empowerment for women with mental health issues matters 

One of the most important ways to help women is helping women living with mental health issues feel confident again. It is important that women see the value not just in themselves, but in the world around them. 

One of the biggest symptoms of depression (as an example since it is one of the most common mental illnesses affecting women) is a distinct lack of joie de vivre. That is French for “joy of living.”  

HuffPost puts it beautifully when they say, “It means allow yourself permission to explore, discover and experience new things and people. It means embracing all of life and know that the universe truly coincides with your innermost desires. 

It’s not easy, but keep this in mind, you have so much to offer. 

As someone who has lived with mental health issues, you have a unique perspective to offer. You likely have a keener sense of empathy than the emotionally healthy people around you. Because you’ve been there. You’ve been through hell and back, and you can help others in the same situation.  

These are gifts that you might not even realize you possess until you take the time to ACCEPT them and OWN them. And these gifts of yours can save lives. 

Create your own empowerment zone 

One helpful idea is creating your own empowerment zone. No matter your living situation, this can be achieved. You don’t need a ton of space to make this work for you. 

  1. Carve out a clean, tidy, quiet space in your living space. Make sure you clean it the best you can, and it is as free of clutter as possible. Our minds tend to be a product of our environment, so this step is really important. 
  2. Create a vision board that represents your current goals. You can do this for less than $10. All you need is a poster board, scissors, glue or tape, and images/words to fill it with. 
  3. Set up any supplies you might need to empower yourself on a daily basis. For some this is a journal and pen. Others prefer a computer to type out their thoughts and search for inspiration online. Do what suits you and your budget! 
  4. Get to work! Make it a priority to sit there every day for at least 15 minutes and do something that inspires you. Track your progress in a journal so you can look back and see how far you’ve come. 
Find empowerment, and hang on tight. 

Once you sense a glimmer of empowerment, run with it. It can be a fleeting friend, but the more you nurture it, the more it will grow. 

 

About the Author: Jen (the writer behind the blog, Diffusing the Tension) lives in Northwest Indiana with her husband and two children (ages 5 and 3.5, with #3 coming in January). She has anxiety, fatigue, and bipolar disorder, and frequently writes about her experiences with that. In her spare time, she is OBSESSED with true crime. She is also a bookworm, TV junkie, and fitness nut. You can follow her @jvan3610 on Twitter.