By Olivia Johnson, DM
C1 Contributor
People can only take our personal power if we give it to them. -- Craig Harper
After completing articles “Correctional Suicides: Doing Time Takes Its Toll” and “Correctional Officer Wellness: Guarding against the Silent Killer,” it only seemed appropriate to end this trilogy with a few more tips about empowerment and taking back your power. Empowerment starts with knowing that you are worthy. Worthy of what you ask, worthy of feeling well and enjoying a good, quality life. Enjoying the things that make you happy and spending time with the people who matter most to you
Look, none of us get out of here above ground. As Valerie Harper said “We are all terminal.” But the time we have should not be spent living with unmanageable stress, feeling isolated and alone, or feeling things are so bad that suicide would ever seem like an option. Getting your power back requires acknowledging ‘you gave it away’ and that ‘you are worthy of getting it back!’
When power is given away, many can end up in a tailspin. When the realization hits that your power is gone (or you believe it is gone), a sense of helplessness seems to emerge. Giving others your power will end up making you feel helpless, insecure, and eventually hopeless that your power will ever return.
Well look no further. Today is the day you will begin to reclaim your power. Craig Harper (2012) provides some excellent advice:
- We give away our power – people can’t take it without our permission;
- We allow people/things to have an unhealthy control and influence in our life;
- Getting angry, bitter and/or resentful at others will fix nothing;
- Positive change starts with awareness, understanding, and acknowledgement; and
- Situation will change when you change – and you can change any time (para. 6).
So the decision to move forward or backward is completely yours. Are you going to curl up in a ball and continue being a victim? Or are you going to get up, dust yourself off, and reclaim what is rightfully yours? Hopefully, you have chosen the latter.
So let’s get busy. Starting today, this very minute, you will no longer give away your power. Say this out loud until you believe it. Take accountability for the people and/or things, which you have allowed to have your power. Remember: they cannot take anything without your permission.
It is fine to be upset and angry about the position you may be in, perfectly fine. But now that you have had time to be upset, let’s press on, because feeling this way will change NOTHING! Only actions change things.
Start with yourself. Be more positive. Let some things roll off your back. Don’t allow others to ruin your mood or your day. That is you giving your power away. Decide that no matter what someone else does or says, you will remain calm. You will not let their words or actions get you off track. Taking back your power begins with taking back your life.
Are you ready?
About the Author: Dr. Olivia Johnson holds a master’s in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Missouri, St. Louis and a doctorate in Organizational Leadership Management from the University of Phoenix – School of Advanced Studies. Perseverance in raising awareness to officer wellness resulted in her being named the Illinois State Representative for the National P.O.L.I.C.E. Suicide Foundation. This role led to her being invited to speak at the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit’s 2010 – Beyond Survival Toward Officer Wellness (BeSTOW) Symposium. Dr. Johnson is a veteran of the United States Air Force and a former police officer and collaborates with several journals regarding law enforcement issues. She writes for Law Enforcement Today as their police leadership expert. Her services were contracted out by Crisis Systems Management to train military personnel worldwide on Critical Incident Peer Support (CIPS). Correspondence can be sent to: johnsonolivia@sbcglobal.net
References
- Harper, C. (2012). Take back your personal power (part 1). Retrieved April 1, 2013, from: http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/take-back-your-personal-power-part-1.html