If you are taking actions because you “should” or “have to” then you have an opportunity to reclaim your personal power by returning to your authenticity. Don Miguel Ruiz states “If you want to live a life of joy and fulfillment, you have to find the courage to break those agreements that are fear-based and claim your personal power.”
Sometimes the shift into personal power is as simple as changing the perspective and the language from “I have to” to “I choose to.” Speaking from a place of burden is common in our society if you stop to listen what people are saying, rather than the meaning you take from the words. The words “I have to” indicate a certain powerlessness to do anything other than what some external force is expecting of you. Shifting these words to “I choose to” can raise a question in your mind: Do I really choose to take this action?
As you start to make this simple shift in language, you open a door to lots of questions about each “have to” and “should” that appears before you. You invite the possibility that you do not choose to do a certain action. And when this happens, you get to reclaim your power in an even bigger way by saying “No” (and probably facing a ton of fear about uttering it!). Small word, big power.
