Be PowerFULL

Powerful is a funny word. It means something different to all of us. It comes loaded with history, context, connotations, and influence. For many, it feels far away or totally unachievable, and we risk slipping into a state of acceptance that we will not have power or be powerful in our lives.

That’s a dangerous mindset for any person - especially our youth. As adults it’s easy to forget how powerless our youth can feel. And in a lot of ways - legally, socially, physically and emotionally - they don’t have the “power” that they would like.

So what do we do? For those of us who have dedicated our lives to supporting, developing and educating the next generation, it can feel like we’re serving up love, guidance and opportunity on a silver platter. “Here I am, every day! You have what you need! What more can you possibly want from me?!”

Of course our love, guidance and opportunity matter deeply. We need to keep giving it. Our society depends on it. But I’d like to put forward that those things will only transform kids’ lives if accompanied by one more thing.

That thing is a deep knowing that they are powerful, and that they have the final word on the course of their lives.

Us adults who are committed to nurturing our next generation must impart this deep knowing. It is, in my view, the most important work.

To do that in this module, we start by redefining powerful, which shall henceforth be spelled “PowerFULL” (someday soon, you too will forget if it’s one “L” or two). It’s spelled this way to remind us that we are already filled with the power to be who we want to be and live the life we want to live. Being PowerFULL simply means knowing that, and choosing to live a big life.

Then, we demonstrate how we can choose to be PowerFULL, and continuously reinforce that it’s a choice available to everyone, always, no matter what. That deep knowing that they are PowerFULL starts here, with you.

In community,

Lex