Author: Impower You

Healing through art & therapy! I used to be depressed and codependent with very low self worth and many unhealthy habits. But several years ago I started the healing process and am sharing what I learned with gratitude and hope for each of us. Peace & hugs, Leah
Empowering Discussions

Navajo Women Walk 1,000 Miles To Protest Pipeline

Impower You

Red Power Media, Staff's avatarRED POWER MEDIA

By Leigh Cuen | Vocativ, Posted 04/07/15

Since January, over 70 Navajo people have joined a prayer walk across the American Southwest protesting a fracking oil pipeline in New Mexico. The walk aims to galvanize Native American communities to demand more from oil companies that profit from the reservations’ natural resources.

The participants started with a crowdfunding campaign that raised almost $6,000 to support their year-long journey. Over the past few months, the Nihígáál Bee iina group has used digital media to share their spiritual traditions, connecting Navajo communities across the country.

They are chronicling their journey on a Facebook page: “Despite being at the forefront of energy extraction, our people do not see its benefits; approximately 25% of our people today live without electricity and running water on the Navajo Nation, while our economy functions at an unemployment rate of about 60%.”

The group calls this 1,000-mile protest their Journey for Existence, commemorating the 150th anniversary of…

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Empowering Discussions

Building a Green City and Then a Green World with Victor Florez

Impower You

As someone searching for a sustainable lifestyle I’m thrilled to find this fascinating blog about sustainable living and creating cities of the future that are part of the eco-system. The blogger, Victor is currently working on a “green city” in India and envisions a “a Green World in which the human ecosystem is intimately integrated into the larger ecosystem of our planet – a sort of human-nature reintegration.” 

In this post he talks about what inspired his career, “Ambivalence and uncertainty seems to be a recurring theme in my life.  For many people, these emotions may cause anxiety. I am no exception to this feeling, but I try converting it into a sense of excitement and wonder.  To gain clarity about my next step, I took out a sheet of paper and wrote down 20 things I must do before dying.  As if this wasn’t a difficult enough task, I chose only 1 out of the 20 that would have the greatest impact on my life if I started doing it immediately.” continue reading at https://victorrflorez.wordpress.com/2015/03/02/prelude-to-sustainability-why-im-doing-what-im-doing/

If you like his blog follow it!

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Empowering Discussions

How Does She Do It All? She Doesn’t; Shonda Rhimes Talks About Taking Turns With Success and Failure

Impower You

There’s a big push for moms and dads to be perfect parents along with having successful high income careers, but is that actually attainable? Shonda Rhine’s honestly answers how she is both a successful mother and TV producer and how often she actually fails. Check it out:

What do you think?

 

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Empowering Discussions

Miscommunication – What Did She Mean When She Said That

Impower You

An important part of individual empowerment is communication. I recently read a blog post about communication and the importance of understanding others words. Check it out at: Christinageorgedotme.wordpress.com/2015/03/23/dont-misunderstand-me-and-for-sure-dont-choose-to-misunderstand-me

I believe that most of us are simply expecting certain words and phrases to be offensive or “wrong” and therefore we misunderstand. “Perhaps an individual’s history moves him/her to alter the meaning and there is no hidden motive.” After all we understand what we know.

Though I also know from experience that some people purposely twist others words in an attempt at manipulation. “Does the culprit see s/he self as coy? Cute? Funny? Or is this a method of control to feed the ego?”

It is as the author says, up to us to change how we move through conversations and to clearly communicate with others.

This is similar to what I teach in self-defense; when someone attacks, you must be clear and firm in telling them “No” so there can be no doubt that you are an unwilling victim of their crime and not at fault. Of course this is also important should your attack warrant a court case or filing a police report.

You are the change, what are you waiting for?

Learn about on this page: Self Defense.

 

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Empowering Discussions

Do You Feel Worthy of Love? Are You Afraid to Ask For Love?

Impower You

Individual empowerment can only be reached if your foundation is built with self-love. How do you expect to succeed, to feel balanced and be healthy if you don’t feel worthy of love? I recently read a quote by Cheryl Strayed that is so powerful I have to share.

“I can’t say when you’ll get love or how you’ll find it or even promise you that you will. I can only say you are worthy of it and that it’s never too much to ask for it and that it’s not crazy to fear you’ll never have it again, even though your fears are probably wrong. Love is our essential nutrient. Without it, life has little meaning. It’s the best thing we have to give and the most valuable thing we receive. It’s worthy of all the hullabaloo.” ― Cheryl Strayed, Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar….continue reading at Margekatherine.com/2015/02/22/tiny-beautiful-things-advice-on-love-and-life-from-dear-sugar

You are the change, what are you waiting for?

Feeling depressed? Read my posts on D.I.Y. Therapy.

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feminist writers, learn about feminism, teaching girls feminism, Fierce, Generation of female empowerment
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Empowering Discussions

Are You a Bad Feminst? ….. Not Likely

Impower You

Individual empowerment is about moving past stereotypes both the pretty and the ugly. Equality is not a black and white issue it’s a glittery rainbow that is vital to everyone.

“In Bad Feminist, Roxane Gay bears her feminism and tells readers that the concept is not black and white—there are various shades of gray within feminism that allow people to be whatever kind of feminist they want to be. Gay discusses that there is no one way to “do feminism.” Feminism is plural, yet society has built a misconception of what it is to be feminist. People think that by being feminist, one must follow this checklist: hate men, never shave, be a woman, be unattractive, and think women are better than men. Only by following this list can one be a good feminist. Due to the misconceptions and made up standards of feminism, so many people refuse to call themselves feminists.”…continue reading at Tcjww.org/2015/03/17/bad-feminist-essays-by-roxane-gay

 

You are the change, what are you waiting for?

 

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Empowering Discussions

Feeling Suicidal? LISTEN to This Young Woman Now!

Impower You

“You have a purpose, you are important, you always will be.”

As someone who dealt with depression for almost 17 years I know how easily thoughts of suicide crawl into the mind and grow big fat ugly roots. As someone who has lost great friends to suicide I want to remind you that suicide is a PERMANENT answer to most often temporary problems. It gets better, but you have to seek help and support. San Diego Help Line: 1-800-479-3339 National hotline: 1 (800) 273-8255

SEE THE VIDEO AND LISTEN AT Madelinescribes.wordpress.com/2015/03/03/listen/

 

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Empowering Discussions, Social Action

An Inside Look: The Real Sweatshops of Cambodia

Impower You

Individual empowerment requires taking action to make the world a healthier place for others, not just ourselves!

Fashion bloggers in the Netherlands were given the chance to see where their clothing originates by working in sweatshops. Check it out:  Examiner.com/article/reality-tv-show-sends-fashion-bloggers-to-work-sweatshop

Do you LOVE fashion, but dislike the unsustainable fashion industry? I do. Expressing ourselves with fashion is a fun and healthy way to enjoy life. But the fashion industry is all about appearances, not expression and that’s unhealthy. This is one of many reasons why I didn’t follow through with a career in fashion. Mass produced fashion is an industry that is unhealthy, unsustainable and basically pointless. As someone who used to love shopping for sales so I could have trendy clothes I no longer want any part of it. I hardly shop at all these days. I prefer to buy second-hand or sustainable made clothing when it’s affordable.

These days I spend more money on food than “necessities” and shiny things. Even then I can’t just go into a 99 cent store and buy some food like product full of artificial flavors and sugar. I want real ingredients, not a chemical-based flavor of those ingredients. Food and worker justice is very important to me and it should be important to you!

Nobody deserves to grow up with their only career options WORKING in dangerous conditions for a few dollars a day. Learn more at these links:

Farmworkerjustice.org

Workersjustice.org

Everybody should be concerned with where their FOOD comes from and how it’s produced. Learn more at these links:

Comfoodjustice.org/policy

Seattleglobaljustice.org/food-justice

You are the change, what are you waiting for?

 

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word art book, affirmations book
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feminist writers, learn about feminism, teaching girls feminism, Fierce, Generation of female empowerment
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Empowering Discussions

The Number One Reason Parents Fail Their Children…

Impower You

Individual empowerment is rooted in failure, or to be more specific to turn failure into lessons. How can you really know what you’re capable of if you don’t have to struggle and look within to find your truest strengths? Parents and guardians who don’t allow their offspring to take chances or be independent create adults who are complacent and often fearful of foreign opportunities. Children need to fail so they can understand it is okay. It also allows them to see that failure will happen throughout life, but they can get back up and try again. You know the saying, “Life is what happens when you make other plans”. This is a saying I really didn’t understand until  I began to work on my personal development a few years ago.

As a child I won the lottery in regards to my mother. She gave me plenty of room to fail. She planted the roots of independence by encouraging me to ask questions, to keep trying and make my own decisions. With my shy personality, a sensitivity from lots of peer bullying and violence and years of deep depression these lessons took longer to bloom than my extroverted siblings. Finally I can use those lessons to succeed in new and unexpected endeavors. What children mostly need from parents is unconditional love, everything else is icing on the cake.

What lessons did your parent(s) or guardians teach you?

 

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Fight.Back.New.Kindle.CoverPreview this book on Amazon.com

….

word art book, affirmations book
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Read this book before you buy at Bookemon.com/book-profile/word-art-and-affirmations/153646

….

feminist writers, learn about feminism, teaching girls feminism, Fierce, Generation of female empowerment
Get your copy at Amazon.com

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Empowering Discussions, Social Action

Yes It Still Exists: How To Lessen Racism, Prejudice, Stereotypes and Hate

Impower You

Individual empowerment involves taking time to listen to others and realize that yes racism still exists. Prejudice, hate and stereotypes are all still experienced by a large percentage of the population. One major way we can end these rootless fears is forcing others to see that it is wrong and hear so from a diverse representation of voices.

I know for myself growing up in such a mixed family gave me an early lesson that prejudice is not only wrong, but if you’re surrounded by people who are different you can easily learn that equality isn’t just an idea, it’s a fact. As history shows us, the more we talk about issues and speak up to change hate, the less hate there will be. We just have to keep ensuring that all vices are heard and hear loudly!

“If more perspectives were shown from various groups who have struggled and contributed to help shape America, things would be different. Generations to come would be more accepting and compassionate towards the races, religions, gender, and sexual preferences. We wouldn’t delete the word “racism” out of our vocabulary but we would be able to stop using it. Racism will eventually a word in the history textbook of how things used to be and not how things still are. We first have to teach the whole truth and not leave out information that will change the story.”…continue reading at Living274.wordpress.com/2015/02/28/does-racism-still-exist

You are the change, what are you waiting for?

 

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Fight.Back.New.Kindle.CoverPreview this book on Amazon.com

….

word art book, affirmations book
Available at Bookemon.com

Read this book before you buy at Bookemon.com/book-profile/word-art-and-affirmations/153646

….

feminist writers, learn about feminism, teaching girls feminism, Fierce, Generation of female empowerment
Get your copy at Amazon.com

Find this and more empowering books at Amazon.com/Leah-Oviedo/e/B007LMUEJ2

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