Are you using LinkedIn? It's a bit like a business orientated version of Facebook. On LinedIn I manage a group called Human Empowerment. Recently I asked the group to define what Human Empowerment is for them. The following is a compilation of quotes from the people who participated in that discussion. Beautiful, and worth reading.

Feel free to add your own definition in the Comments at the end of this article.

Here is what people had to say about their experience of what Human Empowerment is:

The feeling of being "grounded" in wu-ji for those who are familiar with tai-chi concepts is undoutedly one of the most profoundly empowering experiences. Allowing the "ground" or earth to act through you is my first direct experience of "no-mind" and "non-action". The power that transmits is unbelievable. The compassion that rises even in combat is astonishing.

The greatest challenge is to "let" the earth act without interfering. The moment I lose the "ground" I am again another regular guy, but the feeling of empowerment does not leave me because I know I can get back that state in a few seconds. In this state, I can be natural, aligned, non-grasping.

What did it require......unlearning, unlearning.....letting go many things that had accumulated over 30 years of yoga and martial arts practice.....and about a year of learning to "sense" and hacking away at non-essentials of yoga and martial arts....all the fancy stuff....and retaining the basics but with a new awareness. Could I have done all this many years earlier, I think not. When one knows what it is to be bound, one is ready to sense freedom.

Empowerment is being one with nature and to feel its infinite power, both soft and hard. There is no effort involved with helping others, it is only natural. I feel at any moment, if I feel the time is right, I can let go of this life and physical body happily. If there is any greater empowerment than this, I do not know it yet.

Written by: Subhasis Banerji

For me it is growing my inner peace. For it will be reflected in the world. The vibration within is what is manifested in our individual worlds and will grow and gain momentum. If our focus is on fixing things outside of us we are spinning our wheels for we can't change another, only ourselves. It may appear selfish but the world is changing one spirit at a time. In finding the spirit self in balance with the human "being" we are breathing life into the world vibration we choose to live in.

Written by: Karen Nowak

Written by: Pedro Silva II

Written by: Alexander McDonnell

Written by: John Murphy

Written by: Sylvain Curtenaz

Reconnecting to my true spiritual nature, and using my heart as the guiding force enabled me to step fully and authentically into the fullness of "me" allowing greater , freeer expression of my true self, and my talents and abilities, also enabling me to see and accept lovingly my own foibles and faults.. doing this then enabled me to be more loving of others and their fobles and faults..

Now i am happy to live in the flow of life accepting the "now" moment whatever shows up, knowing everything is always occuring for highest good and in being able to do this, instead of resisting moments that are not as i may have planned or wished them to be, allows me to access the gift or learning in each moment, and i find great fulfillment and joy from simply living in trust and love, and being able to open to and enjoy all of life as it presents itself to me.

Empowerment to me , is stepping into the fullness of my true nature, living from within, outwards, allowing full recognition and offering of all i am.. with only joy and humble appreciation for the greatness and wonder of life.

Written by: Vivienne Hunter

Written by: Caroline Johnstone

My empowerment began with the conscious liberation from the emotional drains of those closest to me. Once I became conscious of my own accountability to those connections, I sought to renew my focal points and WOW, that was it. I came to know that I can choose to be or not to be connected to the drain of it all. While remaining empathetic and even sympathetic, I came to understand what it meant to hold my own (This gets deep, so I will spare you the details at this time.)

From there, I began to contemplate the meaning of being "in the world but not of the world." That started when much of my Christian family members would state that it was so hard to be and remain "Christian-like." I did not understand their difficulty; I began to self-assess in regard to my goals and the way in which I was attempting to achieve them. Again, WOW! I came to understand my very own bondage to the trends and expectations of culture, traditions and of the mainstream.

I realized I was short-changing myself in a big way. I knew that I must take a leap of faith and turn away from all of the pomp and circumstance and make for a different focal point. The perspective of my own human empowerment became and is still becoming. It is infinite and only I can navigate my way through the mystery of it all. I must choose hot or cold. I cannot be warm. I must be hot, but as I am not all-knowing, I need guidance. One who is greater that all others is in charge of me now. I have given myself to Him - God. I am now very humble and very willing to live by faith.

I know I cannot lead where I have not been, and I cannot teach what I do not know. I am a student, servant and teacher. My intuitive self is heightened and my bondage is no longer with the status quo. I am bound, found and given sight to the infinite possibilities of life itself and every gift known and unknown therein. I have accepted the Force and my mindset is locked and loaded on the Truth and the Light. For this, I am empowered and continue to help others in their own empowerment.

Written by: Annette Schyadre

You can access the Human Empowerment group on LinkedIn here. Feel free to join and leave your own comment on What is Human Empowerment. Or leave your comment below.