“Human beings have the awesome ability to take any experience of their lives and create a meaning that disempowers them or one that can literally save their lives.”

“Power is one of the most controversial and misunderstood constructs used in human resource development . . . There
is nothing awesome or evil about power. It is one aspect of personal effectiveness . . . the problem lies in its ownership.”

“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.”

“Those who know their values and live by them become the leaders of our society.”

“If I try to use human influence strategies . . . while my character is fundamentally flawed . . . in the long run I cannot be successful.”

“If you operate on the basis of integrity, you will have greater self-respect and self-esteem.”

The very essence of personal development is the congruity between values, goals, and lifestyle.

“A value is an enduring belief . . .”

Milton Rockeach, The Nature of Human Values

A value, however, is even more than a “belief.”

We hold many beliefs at the cognitive level—the level of logic and predictability.

It is when a belief is processed, at the feeling level, that it becomes a value.

The beliefs we hold at this level empower and change our lives.

“Probably fewer than ten people out of a hundred have really examined their lives and the values that drive day to day behaviour.”

Life Skills

“There is power in individuals who congruently lead lives where their philosophies and actions are one.”

Awaken the Giant Within

Leading writers on motivation and leadership tend to refer to good values as those that “contribute to the common good.”

That is a great idea but who decides the common good? How can we be objective? Upon what principles do we base our choice of values?

This is a critical question—for it will not only influence your choice of values, but also the way in which you focus and apply your personal power potential.

Can you think of powerful leaders who had bad values and therefore pursued destructive goals?

The fact that there are constructive and destructive values means choice is imperative.

The “other” people in our lives initially programmed our values during childhood.

Now our value system, as adults, and the direction of our lives is our choice.

Is there a basis for choosing values, which are not only good for us but also valuable in our community?

Many have found the Ten Commandments to be an excellent premise for their values. This document, originally inscribed on stone and now found in the Bible, is said to be one of the oldest and yet most succinct expressions of moral conduct ever written.

All the fundamental principles of life can be found here.

You will note the principles of life, decency, respect, sexuality, rights and reputation.

Imagine how differently the history and current profile of our world might be if these principles were at the heart of all value systems?

Spend a few moments considering these basic principles and how they correspond with your own value system.

You may find that answering this question is not as straightforward as you first thought.

Some suggestions are listed.

Try reordering the list in order of importance to you. 

Now that you have identified and listed your current hierarchy of values, it is important to think of any additions and changes you may like to make.

You may need several days of thinking to complete this exercise.

It’s worth it. It could change the direction of your life..

“When your daily activities reflect your governing values you experience inner peace.”

Time & Life Management

1. Clarifying Goals.
A vital step toward empowerment is to clarify goals together with
the costs and risks involved with each option.
2.Taking Responsibility for Choices.
We need to “own” our choices, even if they don’t always lead to the expected outcome.

3.Staying Focused on the Result.
The original goal should be the continuing central motivation. There is a danger to allow process to take precedence over goals. Power will always be compromised as a result.
4. Making Change a Constant Choice.
Unplanned variables call for relevant responses. Power is expressed in the capacity to be flexible as we move toward our goals.

One of the most important success factors is choosing an appropriate work place.

John L. Holland has developed a vocational model that categorises six work environments.

These categories can also be used to describe the personality orientations of the workers.

The basic goal is to match each “worker” with the “right” work environment.

Read through the personality orientations  to see just where you fit. If you are like most, you will have a mixture from two or more categories.

One of the six categories is normally dominant.

Your particular mix of personality factors is unique. That is very important—no one else can make the same contribution to society that you can.

To discover, accept and appropriately express who we are is the essence of personal power.

1. Realistic. Building, driving trucks and farming.
2.Investigative. Science & academic research.
3.Artistic. Sculpting, performing and writing are artistic occupations
4. Social. Teaching, religious ministry and social work.
5. Enterprising. Sales, politics and finance are enterprising occupations.
6. Conventional. Accounting, computer technology and pharmacology.