A blog post a day for 30 days - Day 23 - Owning my power

I've never felt powerful. Born female into a patriarchal family where my father felt women "had their place" and were clearly less than (insert obligatory bible verse), I was always screaming to be seen, to be heard, to count. Being powerful, or at least feeling I had my own power, wasn't even a consideration. Power has always felt like something held over me, against me and without any control from me. I feel like "power" is the latest buzz word being thrown all over: Own your power, you are powerful, be in your power, use your power. I'm re-framing what power is and what it means for my own life. 

I had to own my power this week in a way that I'd avoided but ultimately was left no other choice. I had to walk through the fears and make demands on how I expected to be treated. I had to put my feelings first. I had to forever sever a tie that had been binding me.

So while not reinventing the wheel, here are my feelings on owning my power at this moment:

Owning my power means doing what is best for me no matter what others think, feel or want.
Owning my power means not shrinking to make people happy.
Owning my power means using my voice, standing tall and not backing down.
Owning my power means not explaining myself for your approval.
Owning my power means setting boundaries.
Owning my power means allowing myself mistakes while not crumbling from them.
Owning my power means giving myself space to start again...no matter how many times it takes.

I am very powerful and will no longer hide it.