So I have so much compassion for people that struggle with it knowingly or unknowingly, silently, or with support. I remember how I would freeze up just considering this proposition some years ago, before actually deciding to bungee jump my way into the entrepreneurial arena (I found out there was a cord after I jumped, lol). Just do it didn’t ‘do it for me’ for the longest time.

So I definitely understand the tendency of the mind to explore new territories by imagining, researching, and perfecting an offering and then go through all the reasons why it's not ready or I'm not ready, just to avoid an 'imperfect' aka failure experience by any means.

And it was definitely not easy nor pleasant for me to overcome this pattern (And truth be told, I still struggle with it quite often). However, despite my perfectionist tendencies, I've found that what has propelled me forward and enabled me to take numerous chances with new service offerings or community activities that genuinely make my heart smile is the ability to push past that inner voice of fear.

So, here are three reasons why embracing failure versus fearing it is worth it - plus one bonus that is less mentioned but definitely worth highlighting has actually been a winning experience for me so far:

1. Learning and Growth: Each failure, every misstep, is an opportunity for us to learn and grow. When things don't go according to plan, it forces us to evaluate what went wrong, what could have been done differently, and how we can improve moving forward. Failure isn't the end of the road; it's a stepping stone on the path to success. Embracing failure as a natural part of the learning process has enabled us to continuously evolve and refine our approach.

2. Becoming more resilient: Failure has a remarkable way of building resilience in us. It toughens us up, teaches us to bounce back stronger, and instills within us a sense of perseverance. When we've experienced failure and come out the other side, we realize that setbacks are temporary and that we have the resilience to overcome any obstacle that comes our way. It's this resilience that empowers us to keep pushing forward, even in the face of adversity.

3. Taking Action: Perhaps the most significant lesson we've learned from embracing failure is the importance of taking action. It's easy to get stuck in a cycle of overthinking and analysis paralysis, endlessly waiting for the perfect moment or the perfect plan. But the truth is, there's never a perfect time, and there's never a perfect plan. Sometimes, we just have to take a leap of faith and trust that we'll figure it out along the way. By taking action, even if it results in failure, we're moving forward, making progress, and ultimately inching closer to our goals.

4. Bonus reason # 4 Feeling freer and more joyful: With every bump encountered, every fall followed by a rise, every cry followed by laughter, the 'failing experiences' show us that nothing is really as bad as our mind imagines it to be, and the courage and guts that it takes to put ourselves out there are much more important than the actual success - or they are equally valuable. So everything turns out easier, more fun, and less serious.

In conclusion, while it may go against every fiber of my perfectionist mind, I've come to realize that embracing failure is not only necessary but incredibly beneficial on the journey to success. By shifting my perspective and viewing failure as a valuable learning experience rather than a setback, I've been able to grow, become more resilient, and take decisive action towards realizing my dreams. So, the next time you find yourself hesitating out of fear of failure, remember – it's better to try and fail than to never try at all.

The word empowered originates from the Latin roots "in," meaning "in or into," and "potere," meaning "powerful."

Although often associated with social collective movements, in this reflexion I aim to delve into the personal dimensions of empowerment.

To me, empowerment signifies the state of connectedness to the ultimate source of power—the creative life force that permeates all existence, from the trees to the surrounding beings, encompassing all physical and non-physical. Recognizing and embracing this energy and consciousness underscores the realization that without it, neither I nor anything else would exist.

Thus, my initial step towards empowerment involves revering in this profound connection with something greater than the individual self.

Following this, recognizing the perceptions and attitudes that prompt feelings of disempowerment acts as a compass, illuminating areas where my energy is depleted, much like a battery draining its charge.

It's in these moments that I know the best thing is to withdraw, and replenish myself from the one source that fuels us all.

For instance, becoming entangled in power dynamics—whether feeling inferior or superior —exemplifies an ongoing struggle for power. A power struggle typically refers to a situation where one competes for control, influence, or dominance within a particular context, such as in politics, organizations, relationships, or social settings.

Yet, this begs the question: do the attributes of control, authority, and dominance indicate genuine power, or are they merely indicators of dominant control? In our swiftly evolving world, the notion of power undergoes continual scrutiny and redefinition.

One emerging viewpoint is that of benevolent empowerment, which advocates for cultivating environments within relationships where every individual feels acknowledged, valued, and encouraged to express their needs, opinions, and boundaries without apprehension of being dominated or silenced.

In such a setting, there's no inclination to dominate others. Instead, individuals feel secure and empathetic, enabling them to voice their needs and heed their inner compass. Simultaneously, the perspectives, preferences, and needs of others are accorded equal respect.

Thus, the essence of empowerment is found not in exerting dominance over others or striving to validate one's value, but in nurturing genuine and safe connections with oneself, others, and the broader community.

In this way, the creative life source may flow freely and express itself, and at the same time safe spaces of conscious listening and contemplation may flourish.

What are your reflexions on this topic? When do you experience a sense of disempowerment, and how do you define empowerment from your standpoint?

Thank you for sharing your insights - they are valuable in fostering a broader conversation within our community.

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I get it, and I’m the first one to raise my hand as one who often has so much say and to share. But as I began this year, I realized that it is when I listen carefully, deeply, honestly and attentively to the one before me, is when real magic may happen. This can look like a deeper connection, the opening of a luminous space that is so rarely found in this busy, noisy world. It can look like a deepening of a bound, and always, a heart opening.

It can also be a realization that the other has different needs and wants that my own. And that that is ok. That this is more than acceptable and that it invites honouring the other as much I dream of being honoured and respected.

So this year, I started the year as I usually do in the past years … inside my heart, my mind and my soul. My inspiration came as I was painting a white rose, where beams of light caressed each petal.

And the inspiring words that opened up this fresh, new and intense year were words embedded with wisdom, love and light. They came straight out of a holly book, which speaks about love in a way that I can only dream of living, sharing and experiencing in this lifetime. This message carries both ancient wisdom and contemporary freshness simultaneously. And it says the following:

^‘‘ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

⁸ Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰ but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. ¹¹ When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. ¹² For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

¹³ And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.’’ - 1 Corinthians 13 4 : 13.

There’s not a day that passes by that I don’t pray that we all may embody this kind of love and witness its power of transformation for us, all.

Until the next time,

I wish you blessed miracles, of all kinds.