As I stand in my kitchen looking for a knife to cut this apple, I remember that iron has always sharpened iron. But what do you do if your sword no longer is sharp? Run, run fast. And don’t look back.

Empowered individuals like to empower others. It really is just that simple. It takes a lot of strength to encourage and empower others. Why you ask? Because it means you must first have looked within yourself to figure out exactly who you are. Only after truly knowing and understanding yourself can you want the best for someone else, even as you struggle through your own issues. You see, the challenges of life are not limited to the poor, weak or unsuccessful. We all get our fair share when it comes to life’s challenge. Some get way more than you (or I) can ever imagine. Our looking glass, the way we interpret these challenges, will determine if the challenges dull or sharpen us. Our mindset will determine our riches, strengths and successes.

Truly empowered individuals think differently. They are always being sharpened, even when they appear to be dull. The empowered make it their job to empower others just as it is the job of the sharpened iron, to look for ways to remain sharp. That means getting in uncomfortable situations and coming out better. Not scarless, not bitter but most importantly, not dull. The empowered come out of every situation sharpened and sharper.

So why then did I start off telling you to run?

Because…if at this point in your life you don’t find yourself surrounded by people who can sharpen you, you’ve either become dull or are in the process of actively dulling someone else. Either way you need to run. Run so that you don’t find yourself in the same predicament as this knife I’m holding, you know, the one I was hoping to cut this apple with. This once “go to” knife that peeled apples, cut onions and participated in every meal is now in the back of the drawer almost forgotten. I’ve actually used this knife to stir honey in my tea! How can that be? How can an instrument once used with caution now function as a spoon. Easy, it was never sharpened. It became dull.

While running you will discover a couple of things. One, there are others running as well and two, you will get to your destination faster.

So, are you still sharp?

Written by Dr Val during her run…