When it comes to looking after our wellbeing it’s important to understand that we all have the tools by which to empower ourselves to make significant changes in our lives.
That’s the message Craigavon based complementary therapist Deborah King brings to her clients on a daily basis.
Her mission is to empower others to know that they already have all the resources within them to be who they want to be and live the life they wish to live.
Through her company, Bee Empowered, Deborah uses the story of the bumblebee to explain her theory.
Deborah King
“We’ve all heard the story of how bumblebees shouldn’t be able to fly” said Deborah.
“Given their wingspan and body weight and using a specific type of aerodynamic theory it was considered to be impossible. Luckily the bee wasn’t aware of this ‘impossibility’ and happily flew anyway.
“Many will say this is a myth but regardless of that this simple story highlights the nature of what it means to be empowered – you don’t have to have everything figured out logically in order to do what you want to do or be who you want to be.
“Instead, you can just be yourself, do whatever you are capable of to the best of your ability and stop letting other people’s limitations define who you are and how your life should be.”
Deborah specialises in empowering those who are looking for a happier lifestyle. Trained in modalities including energy healing and visualisation therapies, such as Reiki, Seichem, Time Line Therapy TM and hypnosis and Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) she has first-hand experience at helping others by using therapy.
“To me, being empowered is taking full responsibility for your life and living life on your own terms. If there is something about your life you want to change, then change it. If you can’t change it then learn to accept it, change your thoughts and attitude towards it and keep moving forward” said Deborah.
Through Bee Empowered, Deborah aims to educate, teach and inspire others to take control of their minds and emotions, harness their body’s natural ability to heal and consequently improve their general health and wellbeing.
By taking a holistic approach and responsibility to personal health she believes everyone has it within them to live a much healthier, happier and empowering life.
“The field of complementary therapies has so much to offer with regard to helping people to realise that they can in fact take control of many things in their life and that change is possible” she said, adding: “For example, Neuro Linguistic Programming helps us to understand our brains, how we do what we do and gives us tools to make changes to our programming quickly.”
So what can you do right now to be empowered?
Here are 11 things Deborah says you can do in your everyday life:
1. Listen to an empowering song every day
Take at least five minutes every day to put your empowering song on and sing it out loud, regardless of what you think of your voice, and ideally dance along. We are vibrational beings and music can raise our energy making us feel positive, energised and empowered.
2. Use positive self-talk
Self-talk actually sends messages to your subconscious brain to form habits that coincide with what you are thinking. Program yourself with positive thoughts like “I can do this”, “I am enough” and “I can figure this out”
3. Change how you feel about fear.
When you want to make changes in your life or are facing a challenge we can often feel fear. Instead of letting this paralyse you consider that fear means that you are “Feeling Excited And Ready!”
4. No more “should”
Instead of doing that thing because we think we “should” ask yourself if you want to. Doing things because you feel obliged to will strip you of your personal power. Guilt is one of the most destructive emotions we can experience.
5. Say “NO”
Being empowered means doing what is right for you. We often feel we have to justify our decisions or make up excuses as to why we really don’t want to go to that place, meet that person or do that thing we really don’t enjoy anyway. Maybe you are just tired and need some time out for you. If you really don’t want to just say “no” – you don’t need a reason why.
6. Give yourself credit
Know that you are doing the best you can with the current resources you have. You really did make the best choice you could with the circumstances you had. Now move on.
7. Step closer to your dream
Whether it’s putting that extra £10 you found into the holiday fund or handing in your notice to pursue the career of your dreams, having a passion and a goal can help you feel energised, alive and positive.
8. Ask yourself empowering questions
When faced with a problem or dilemma, instead of thinking it is impossible ask yourself, ”so what would it take for me to be able to do this?” You might just surprise yourself with the answer.
9. Be grateful for someone
Gratitude and appreciation is considered to be the same vibration as love. By appreciating things in life it helps us to feel good, keeps us in a positive mindset and reminds us of how far we have come in our lives.
10. Treat your inner child well
If you are finding something difficult, talk to yourself kindly, as you would to a child. When a child is learning to walk and falls down we don’t shout at them and tell them they are stupid – we encourage them, no matter how many times they fall down.
11. Trust your instinct
Our feelings are our true indicators as to what is empowering or disempowering us. Things may not always make sense logically at the time but if something or someone doesn’t feel right, ask yourself why.
Deborah is based in Lurgan and Portadown and provides workshops and training across the country. Not only is she a one-to-one therapists but she also facilitates group work. Find out more about Bee Empowered at www.facebook.com/DeborahKing.