Empowerment…what does it mean?

My dearest readers,

In today’s day and age, the word “empowerment” has become omnipresent across many spheres of society. We speak of empowering women in their professional and career lives, of empowering adolescents to take ownership of their futures, of empowering underrepresented and underprivileged populations to reach greater heights than previous generations. In my own field of medicine, we celebrate a new culture in medicine where patient-centered care means empowering patients to become educated and proactive about their own health.

In light of the great presence that this word has in our quotidian lives, I felt it only fitting to explore its meaning in my recent guest blog post of Stilettos on the Glass Ceiling … a sort of homage to the weight that this word carries in the way we currently seek—it can be argued—the road to success, in both accomplishments and wellbeing.

Thus, to begin, what does empowerment mean exactly? Personally, I’ve come to see empowerment as the way by which, each and every one of us, renders ourselves “powerful,” in a unique way that makes sense within our own lives. In this way, to empower one’s self, or to empower someone else, is very much context dependent, as it depends on different situations and different people alike. For instance, sometimes empowerment can be directed towards bettering or encouraging ourselves, an internal force that is, in turn, also directed inwards. Sometimes though, empowerment can be direct towards someone else or even a group of people as a whole; in this way we have the capacity to empower others, making a difference in other people’s lives. Different situations can also bring different meanings to the act of empowering, whether it is directed towards ourselves or others. For instance, the manner by which one may empower a child to be confident while giving an oral presentation in a classroom may be very different than what it may mean to empower a group of women in a developing nation to participate in the local economy.

The meaning of empowerment also boils down to how we perceive the word “power.” Again, just like the term “empowerment” itself, I feel that “power” carries different meanings based on context; different meanings for different situations and different people. When I think about “empowerment” however, there are certain common forms of “power” that come to my mind. I tend to think of power in terms of gaining autonomy – of becoming more independent and self-efficient. I also tend to think of power in this context as ownership – whether it be “owning” who you are or “owning” a cause or passion; having the power to be authentic and true to yourself and to your cause. Finally, I also tend to see power in the act of empowerment in terms of confidence; confidence in one’s self, confidence in a cause, and confidence in one’s ability to carry through on a dream or ambition.

When it comes to exploring the meaning of empowerment I also feel it important to discern its temporality and role. What I mean by this is when does empowerment come into the picture exactly? The way I see it, empowerment is very much part of the journey. In my opinion, between a starting point and an end goal, dream, or objective, empowerment is a means by which we may flavor the journey towards accomplishment to be one of positivity. Empowerment is a happening; an installation of power in the individual or group, in the form that they require, that allows for the journey between start and finish to be one full of wellbeing, growth, success and belief in said success.

My dearest readers, I think it is quite clear that empowerment is truly a dynamic concept that shifts meaning from one context to another, from one individual to the next. As a concept it can be thoroughly abstract or made concrete, it can be a strong player or a soft undertone in one’s day, it can be somewhat actively pursued or passively stumbled upon, it can be a means by which we may better ourselves or in turn make a difference in the lives of others. I hope this homage to this term, despite only touching upon the subject superficially, has drawn realization to the strong presence of this concept in our society.

See the original article on Stilettos on the Glass Ceiling: http://stilettosontheglassceiling.com/2016/03/what-does-empowerment-mean-to-you-by-maria-psihogios.html

 

Learn to Guard & Protect your Dreams

My dearest readers, I recently published this article as my monthly contribution to the Stilettos on the Glass Ceiling community – an article that encompasses an important aspect of self-empowerment – to guard one’s dreams. You can find the original article at http://stilettosontheglassceiling.com/2015/07/learn-to-guard-protect-your-dreams-by-maria-psihogios.html Enjoy the read! 

To dream is to envision your most fearless self setting out on a journey towards achieving your aspirations, pursuing your passion, and living your life each day as though it was full of endless potential. I am a firm believer in dreaming big, dreaming fearlessly, dreaming as though you are still that five-year-old child who navigates the world with hope and imagination.

Over the years, I have also experienced firsthand the importance of guarding these dreams … protecting beautiful dreams from the harsher aspects of our world, from self-doubt, from the fear of failure, and from the negativity of others.

We all grow up hearing about the importance of guarding one’s heart … I propose that we also set out on a mission to guard our dreams … because dreams too are fragile and vulnerable things.

We must first learn to guard and protect our dreams from self-doubt, from negative self-talk, and from the fear of failure. Sometimes, it is the fear of failure that makes us cut back on our aspirations in the first place. Big dreams require a great leap of faith, and the journey ahead often involves a great deal of challenges, new experiences, detours, and hard work. It is important to not let this take away from a positive outlook; I believe that it is possible to be simultaneously pragmatic and optimistic. You can choose realism as you identify potential roadblocks, but be self-confident in your ability to deal with these trials. Choose positive self-talk over negative internal dialogue. Choose to see setbacks as opportunities to take a new approach on the journey to achieving your dream, rather than seeing them as failures.

Learning to protect your dreams from self-doubt allows you to become your number one fan. Become an immovable guardian of your dreams, and in doing so, set forth into the world with dreams that are untouchable because you unconditionally believe in them.

Fostering an environment where our dreams can flourish, grow, and prosper, is also an important aspect of guarding our dreams. Learn to surround yourself with people who support you in achieving your dreams; who believe in you and raise you up rather than pull you down. It is such a beautiful thing to be able to share the joy and excitement of a dream with others; to find friends and mentors in the world to be able to do so with is a gift. Likewise, surround yourself with people who will remind you of your dreams, and your ability to achieve them, during the challenging and trying times. Build a scaffolding of social support that allows you to guard your dreams and believe in your ability to achieve them so that when you need that extra dose of inspiration, motivation, or encouragement, you have people there to feed your spirit.

Whether it be reading inspirational quotes, putting fresh flowers on your desk, painting your walls in your favorite colors, or creating an uplifting playlist for your commute into work, create a microcosm for yourself that makes guarding your dreams a bit easier on a daily basis. Create a safe place for your dreams … a space, both in physicality and in mind-set, where you find yourself inspired and happy. When you are in your happy place, you are better able to not only be a true guardian of your dreams, but also dream in the first place.

Dreams are indeed amazing entities … while they can be fragile and vulnerable, they can also be some of the most powerful means by which we may seek purposeful and dynamic lives. Dreams are a gateway to creating magic.

I leave you with this quote by Langston Hughes as it captures the notion that dreams give us wings in life … guard your dreams and learn to fly my dearest readers!

“Hold fast to dreams,
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird,
That cannot fly.”
~ Langston Hughes

Empathy…the Key to Successful Leadership

Empathy is an exceptional part of the human connectedness that brings meaning to our everyday interactions and relationships in life. Growing up, I always thought of it as the ability to place one’s self in another person’s shoes. It is an attempt to understand experiences, thoughts, and feelings from someone else’s point of reference and vantage point. It is to vicariously experience the thoughts and attitudes of another; an effort to imagine what someone else’s experience of life might be like.
To be a leader is, in many ways, to understand people. It is here that one can draw a connection between successful leadership communication (in other words, effective “leadership talk”) and empathy. Conveying empathy through leadership is key, and it can be thoughtfully incorporated into one’s leadership communication style by keeping a few things in mind.
The first step to take in attempting to understand someone else’s point of view is simply asking! Next time you find yourself in a leadership role, whether it be facilitating a meeting, mentoring someone, or conducting a focus group, remember to encourage and foster an environment of sharing and open communication. Although it may seem quite obvious, it is important to remember that the easiest way to start putting yourself in someone else’s shoes is to ask about how they are feeling, what they are experiencing, and what they are thinking. As a leader, this dialogue is of unequivocal importance in understanding the perspective of the people you are leading and thus incorporating empathy into one’s leadership style.
As one attempts to understand another’s thoughts and feelings, it helps to recap, reiterate, and check in. As a leader, a great communication skill to practice and adopt is the ability to recap, reiterate, and check in periodically. This allows leaders to ensure that they are truly understanding what others are expressing and feeling. Touching base with a phrase such as, “We’ve discussed quite a bit so far and I just want to make sure we’re on the same page. What I’m hearing is …” allows leaders to not only ensure their own understanding of a situation, but also sends the message that they place importance on understanding the people they are working with. If something is unclear, one can also ask for clarification. “Tell me more about that” is a simple phrase that can work in this respect.
Validation is also truly important in ensuring that one’s “leadership talk” is empathetic.Although the concept of empathy, as I defined it above, has as its foundation the attempt to understand others’ experiences of life through their perspective, its practice ultimately also involves a significant element of compassion. To lead with empathy is thus not only to understand another’s point of view but to also express interest in another’s perspective and do so with compassion and thoughtfulness. A great way to accomplish this is to incorporate validation into one’s “leadership talk.” Validation is ultimately to use language in a way to communicate to someone that you not only hear what they are saying, attempting to understand what they are feeling, but also accepting their right to the feelings they are experiencing. Placing focus on validation creates a culture where individuals not only feel comfortable in discussing their own thoughts and emotions, but they also feel comfortable in supporting others in their sharing of feelings.
I leave you with the following quote by Sue Monk Kidd, as I hope you are inspired to focus on empathy as you continue to lead others in your day-to-day interactions:“Empathy is the most mysterious transaction that the human soul can have, and it’s accessible to all of us, but we have to give ourselves the opportunity to identify, to plunge ourselves in a story where we see the world from the bottom up or through another’s eyes or heart.”
Check out my original post which was featured on the SOTGC website at http://stilettosontheglassceiling.com/2015/04/empathy-is-a-key-factor-in-being-a-successful-leader-by-maria-psihogios.html

A Beautiful New Era of Empowering One Another…In Medicine and Beyond

My dearest readers,

When I tell people who I am meeting for the first time that I am in medical school, I sometimes am met with the response “I bet the environment is super competitive.” This got me thinking one day. Yes, on the one-hand, it is somewhat inevitable that any program that requires as much of its applicants as it does of its students harbors a certain amount of competition. However, on the other hand, my experience of medical school has been one which has been overwhelmingly characterized by support, encouragement, empathy and empowerment amongst classmates. Perhaps a change from years and generations past.

I truly believe this speaks to an evolving culture where empowering one another takes precedence over rivalry and unhealthy levels of competition.

A shift in culture that, in medical school, is mirrored in the approach to patient-centered care that we are taught; one that replaces paternalism of the past with a focus on a therapeutic alliance between patient and doctor. A relationship of trust that is dynamic in nature, involving active discussions, understanding patient needs, and counselling and empowering patients so as to allow them to play an active role in the attainment of their full health and wellbeing potential.

The prevalence of mentorship throughout my education also speaks to an era of empowering one another. As we approach the end of our own medical school journey, my classmates and I have been actively making ourselves available as mentors to students in the years below us. To be a mentor is to be a sharer of advice, knowledge and guidance, taking what one has learned through one’s own life experiences to contribute to the growth of others.

This era of empowering one another extends far beyond the world of medicine. I believe it is a culture that is being nurtured in many professions. It is a common theme explored by networking sites and motivational blogs. It is a dogma and mentality being adopted and nurtured by the young professionals of today.

To make it to the top of the ladder of success is one thing; to achieve one’s dreams and become successful while simultaneously empowering others to do the same is, in my opinion, the true definition of leadership, success and accomplishment. Support  others, inspire others, motivate others…be the epitome of this new era of empowering one another. This is where lies the magic of today and the future. 

Far from Fraudulent Behaviour…. the Oh-so Common “Impostor Syndrome”!!

My dearest readers,

No matter how high-achieving we may be, it is not uncommon to experience moments where we underestimate our capabilities, where our thoughts may be burdened by a sense of self-doubt, where we feel almost like impostors who don’t deserve the praise and recognition we receive.

If you have ever felt this way, you are most definitely not alone! A common phenomena among high-achievers, the “Impostor Syndrome” was a term coined in the 1980’s to describe the feeling or fear that one gets of being “found out” as not being as smart, capable, skilled or deserving as everything seems to think.

As Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook, describes in her National Best Seller Lean In, “…many people, but especially women, feel fraudulent when they are praised for their accomplishments. Instead of feeling worthy of recognition, they feel undeserving and guilty, as if a mistake has been made. Despite being high achievers, even experts in their fields, women can’t seem to shake the sense that it is only a matter of time until they are found out for who they really are – impostors with limited skills or abilities.”

As a medical student currently on her surgery rotation, I can definitely attest and relate to the feelings and “symptoms”, so to speak, of the oh-so common “Imposter Syndrome”. I believe that it’s a rather natural feeling to experience, especially in areas that challenge us and pull us out of our comfort zones. In essence, it is a sign that we are not settling for mediocre but striving to do our best and taking a path of high ambitions, drive and expectations of one’s self! However, I believe that it is also of the utmost importance to not let this fear impede on our ability to not only succeed but do so with a sense that we are deserving of our accomplishments.

Here are some things to keep in mind in dealing with this phenomenon!

Own your successes!  – Be kind to yourself and embrace the hard work and dedication that have brought you to where you are today.

Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone – that’s where all the magic happens! – Trying something new, especially something challenging or out of our comfort zone, can be a scary thing to do. Remember that you are capable of anything you put your mind to!

Mistakes are opportunities for growth! – There is no such thing as failure…we all have our ups and downs! Take every moment in life as an opportunity to learn and grow. Things may not always go as planned but every step of the journey brings us closer to our goals and dreams.

Strive to be your best self! – Don’t burden yourself by comparing your abilities, skills and worth to that of others. Be yourself and work on your own strengths, ambitions and goals…in your own special way. Your journey is unique…

Stay positive! – Wake up every morning with the belief that something wonderful is going to happen. Drive self-doubt out of your mind and convince yourself that no matter what, you grow each day and experience enriches your personal story.

 

Thus, my dearest readers, don’t feel like an impostor! You are far from fraudulent…own your success and do let the fear of failure ever stop you from making things happen…making magic happen!!!