Sharon L. Mikrut - Empowerment Coach

Battling the Bully - Standing Up for Yourself with Confidence and Assertiveness

When I was young, there was a girl who was a year younger and a foot taller than me. She bullied me for approximately two years. One day something inside of me snapped; I decided I wasn’t going to take her abuse any longer and stood up to her. Unfortunately, our confrontation ended in a fight, which I won.  She never picked on me again. I learned at an early age that if you allow people to bully, harass, or cut you down, then they will do so. If, on the other hand, you make a decision to stand up for yourself and not allow the bully to take control, then s/he will move on to someone or something else.

Where Are You In Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy Of Needs?

As a social work and psychology student, Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs was a theory in which we focused a great deal of time. According to Maslow, there are five levels of needs, ranging from physiological to self-actualization. It is difficult to move from one level to the next without first meeting your needs at the lower level. If you can identify where you are currently at in the hierarchy, it will give you a better understanding of where you are coming from and what you need to do to reach the fifth and final step, self-actualization.

Coach Sharon's Stress Busters - #81 - #100

In four previous blog pots, I listed the first 80 stress busters from my "Top 100 Stress Busters" list.  This post provides the final 20 stress busters (#81 - #100).

81. Play solitaire.

82. Create a home environment that is inviting, warm, and happy.  Create a home that is YOU.

Coach Sharon's Stress Busters - #61 - #80

In three previous posts, I listed the first 60 stress busters from my "Top 100 Stress Busters" list.  This post lists the next 20 stress busters (#61 - #80).

61. Think about how you’ve handled stressful situations in the past – what worked best for you?  Then repeat that activity, if possible.

62. Seek a job or career you enjoy; one that you look forward to every day.

Coach Sharon's Stress Busters - #41 - #60

In two previous posts, I listed the first 40 stress busters from my "Top 100 Stress Busters" list.  This post provides the next 20 stress busters (#41 - #60) on my list.

41. Take a long, hot shower or bubble bath.

42. Close your eyes and listen to your favorite music.

Coach Sharon's Stress Busters - #21 - #40

In a previous blog post, I listed the first 20 stress busters from my "Top 100 Stress Busters" list.

This blog post identifies the next 20 stress busters (#21 - #40).

 

21. Watch a sunrise or sunset.

 

22. Watch the clouds change form as they move.

Empowerment – Taking Control Of Your Life

Virginia Woolf once said that “To enjoy freedom we have to control ourselves.”  Empowerment is the process of developing our personal power so that we control our own life, leading to personal freedom.  To become empowered, I found the following six steps to be helpful:

1. Understand that you have control over your life and that no one can control you.  This first step is absolutely critical.  Although others may have controlled your life in the past or may still attempt to do so, you are the one who ultimately controls your life.