If the new year has you thinking about making some healthy life changes, going back to school or applying for a new job, congratulate yourself for wanting to make those changes! But how will you accomplish them?

You’ll need both self-confidence and self-empowerment to reach your new goals. Confidence is belief in your own abilities. It helps you understand where you are right now and trust you have the ability to succeed. Self-empowerment is believing you can handle life’s challenges, make meaningful choices and create the change you want; it’s about taking charge of your own destiny.

If you struggle with making changes, PATH resources can help you develop a more empowered life that will make it easier for you to manage change successfully. You might want to consider signing up with a PATH health coach for some one-on-one help, completing a Journey or watching one — or more — of the videos available under Media in the top navigation bar on PATH‘s home page.

There are many things you can do to strengthen your confidence and develop self-empowerment. Here are just a few tips to help you take charge of your life!

• Be Positive.
  If you believe you control your destiny, you’re more likely to make things happen. Develop a positive attitude by looking at your strengths and weaknesses, going after things you’re passionate about and learning to trust your abilities. PATH Meditation video topics (under Media in the top navigation bar) are a great way to start thinking — and being — positive.
  
  
  
• Create SMART Goals.
  SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound. This step is crucial in building your self-empowerment. For example, if you want to run a marathon, break your goal down into steps you can accomplish one at a time. Maybe you first commit to jogging three times a week. Once you do that, you can make a slightly more challenging goal such as adding days or distance. Or perhaps you decide to run a 5K before you enter a marathon. As you master each step — and cross it off your to-do list — you’ll become more and more confident in your abilities.
  
  
  
• Practice Self-care.
  Self-care is any activity that makes you feel happy and healthy. It can include everything from eating right and exercising to scheduling a spa treatment or therapy session. Taking time to relax helps you become more self-aware. And a deeper understanding of yourself can help you make positive changes in your life.
  
  
  
• Create an Action List.
  Empowered people take action to learn and develop their skills, because they believe they can grow and shape their development. They also understand that success doesn’t happen overnight but rather through careful planning and consistent effort. Creating an action list helps you visualize and define each step you need to take toward a goal. If, for example, you want to finish the college degree you started years ago, first list the actions you need to take to graduate. To begin, you might research your online and on-campus options for classes. Next, you could investigate whether your work experience can fulfill any course requirements. Creating an action list helps you keep track of what you need to do and reminds you of the goals you’re accomplishing along the way.

People who feel empowered are often happier, more fulfilled and more satisfied in their careers and their relationships. Developing self-empowerment takes time, but greater confidence, a stronger sense of self and more easily handling life’s challenges make the journey worthwhile. And PATH is here to help you on your journey!