Monthly Archives: December 2019

“People who are empowered don’t go along to get along.”

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“People who are empowered don’t go along to get along.”

—Cheryl Richardson, New York Times bestselling author

Image from cherylrichardson.com

How strongly do the following statements apply to you?

  • I have the power, authority, and autonomy to influence my personal and professional communities.
  • I feel strong and confident in all areas of my life.
  • I feel that my ideas and interests are valued and seriously considered at work and at home.
  • I live a highly self-determined life in which I accept personal authority and responsibility for my actions.

EXERCISE:

If your thoughts regarding these statements fall below your desired levels of empowerment, consider where you happen to be “going along the get along.”

Where and with whom can and will you take steps to live a far more self-determined life?

“Human nature is like water. It takes the shape of its container.”

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“Human nature is like water. It takes the shape of its container.”

—Wallace Stevens, 20th Century American Poet

Image from Unsplash by Delbert Pagayona

When I was a boy, one of my hobbies was maintaining a tropical fish tank with many varieties of brightly colored and various shaped species. In the early years, before they knew my level of commitment, my parents purchased a small set that included a ten-gallon tank.

As my interest grew, I graduated to more elaborate set-ups, which always involved a larger tank.

One thing I particularly enjoyed was that almost all fish species grew a bit larger in their expanded environments.

EXERCISE:

Examine some of the professional and personal containers in which you swim each day. How large is the container that supports your growth? Who are the individuals that influence your nature? What attitudes and behaviors do they exhibit?