Society often defines Empowerment as: “authority or power given to someone to do something”. This suggests that a person becomes empowered by something outside of themselves, that it is something given to them by another person. We often hear about being empowered by our job or by a crowd that is listening to a speaker. Maybe empowered by a title that a person was born with or a college degree. There are many ways that a person can become empowered by outside forces. However, often that feeling of empowerment is fleeting. Once a job is lost or the crowds go away, the person is left feeling disempowered. Some experience the feeling of “not good enough” or that they are really a “fake”. This swing can feel extreme.

However, there is another type of empowerment: Moving away from needing “the tribe” to feel empowered and turning within to realize true, lasting empowerment. When a person moves into internal empowerment, they experience a deeper spiritual relationship. A deep awareness of their place within the world. A true knowing of their divine self. This is empowerment that is sustainable. This is what brings true liberation, true freedom.

The internal self

This turning into the internal self and finding that true empowerment takes dedication. It is easy to become distracted and forget about the divine self. Taking the time daily for developing a deeper spiritual connection takes work. Connecting with this greater good, the divine self, is worth the time spent.

There are many daily practices that take a person deeper into this personal space. Meditation, visualization and journaling are a few of those practices. Relax, a person doesn’t have to do them all every day! One practice each day makes a difference. Putting any of these practices into a daily routine is as important as daily exercise and good nutrition. And it only takes a few days to know that it is impacting your everyday life.

Conversing with A Higher Power

Speaking with a higher power can be easy and can be done in multiple ways. A quick word of gratitude or checking-in with your inner truth throughout the day can settle a person into their center. Sometimes, a longer conversation in a quiet space that acknowledges the vastness of spirit and recognizes our part in this universe can do wonders to help us embrace a sense of empowerment.

Meditation

There are many ways to meditate. Often a person finds one that fits for them and will meditate daily with this specific type of meditation for years. Some find it better to use a different meditation according to their day or their needs at that moment.

Reading, journaling, art

Other ways to connect with spirit and with your divine self which brings internal empowerment might be reading text that takes you deeper into contemplation, journaling your thoughts or events of the day, chanting, singing, theater, and art.

Whatever you decide to do, bringing a spiritual practice into your daily regimen will help you find an inner empowerment that impacts all areas of your life.

 Natural environments are known to promote physical, mental, and spiritual healing. People can attain health benefits by spending time outside, often in remote places to “get away from it all.” Now research conducted by a University of Minnesota graduate student shows that green and “blue” spaces (environments with running or still water) are especially beneficial for healthy aging in seniors.

Published in the journal Health and Place, the study demonstrates that by incorporating smaller features, such as a koi pond or a bench with a view of flowers, public health and urban development strategies can optimize nature as a health resource for older adults. Throughout the research, green and blue spaces promoted feelings of renewal, restoration, and spiritual connectedness. They also provided places for multi-generational social interactions and engagement, including planned activities with friends and families, and impromptu gatherings with neighbors.

“We zoomed in to everyday life for seniors between the ages of 65 and 86. We discovered how a relatively mundane experience, such as hearing the sound of water or a bee buzzing among flowers, can have a tremendous impact on overall health,” says Jessica Finlay, a former research assistant on the project and lead author of the paper. “Accessibility to everyday green and blue spaces encourages seniors to simply get out the door. This in turn motivates them to be active physically, spiritually and socially, which can offset chronic illness, disability and isolation.”

Natural environments enable older adults to uphold daily structure in retirement and provide opportunities for diverse activities outside the home. This impacts quality of later life by decreasing boredom, isolation, and loneliness; as well as boosting one’s sense of purpose and accomplishment. Waterfront areas are comforting sites for spiritual connectedness and relaxing places to escape the strains of later life.

“While our research may seem intuitive, it creates conversations on how to build communities that serve people across their entire lifetime. We don’t just need a playground for children, we also need sheltered benches for the grandparents to watch them,” says Finlay. “This research is more than anecdotal; it gives certanty to some small but significant elements of everyday later life. Hopefully it will help urban planners and developers build communities that span a lifetime.”