What Empowerment Really Feels Like

Here I am, a predominately womens’ photographer spouting off ideas to encourage and empower you. What do you think empowerment looks like? Feels like?

I think we think that empowered women sorta look like Wonder Woman (Linda Carter or Gal Gadot) And we think it feels big and puffed up.

I love Lindsay’s headshot above, by the way. I love the color and her Rosie the Riveter, can-do pose and expression.

But that’s not what empowerment necessarily looks and feels like. Empowerment is more often quiet, relaxed and soft. Muscle strength isn’t only strong when it’s lift a heavy thing. It’s also there when we’re lifting the spoon of Phish Food to our face.

Empowerment is knowing you can kick butt, and not needing to do it all the time. Anxiety, worry, seeking approval… not empowered. And the great thing is that empowerment doesn’t take nearly as long to build as muscle strength. But it may take practice. When you’re feeling those high blood pressure kind of feelings, you can choose otherwise.

You can choose to trust. You can choose to love. You can choose to return to softness.