The Law of Empowerment:

Only Secure Leaders Give Power to Others- Many people gain their personal value and esteem from their work or position. Threaten to change either of them, and you threaten their self-worth. -John Maxwell, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership.

There's not much that equals the feeling of being empowered. It is absolutely invigorating. And there is not much equal to the feeling of defeat. It is absolutely depleting. My question for us to ponder today: Do we empower others or deplete them?

Let's look at leaders and followers...
In the words of John Maxwell, he says, leaders practice the Law of Empowerment by living out priorities. They live and lead from principle rather than from reaction.
Leaders are to...
1. Act from their principles.
2. Empower others even when it's difficult.
3. Live off of character.

Followers often...
1. React from their feelings.
2. Withdraw in difficult times.
3. Live off of emotions.
(taken from The Maxwell Leadership Bible, NKJV)

All of us want to be empowered, yet we leave it to others to give us our empowerment fix. We are constantly looking for someone to make us feel better about ourselves. Let us stop today! May I present that if we begin to empower others, we in turn will be empowered? You might not consider yourself a leader but you need to reconsider the idea. It is a matter of the heart.

If you are teetering between the two, leader and follower, then I challenge you to a duel! You have principles don't you? If not, get some. You need them. You have character for sure. Make certain it is character worth cloning. And when you feel the urge to wallow in self doubt and withdraw from everything around you, stop and think. Is this how I want to be known? Is this the legacy I want to leave? Draw your line in the sand. Decide this is the last day you will suck the life out of others and have others suck it from you. You are worth the fight for your own dignity and confidence.