Empowering

/ɪmˈpaʊərɪŋ/ adjective/verb

Definition

Giving someone the confidence, authority, or ability to do something they previously felt incapable of achieving. It involves transferring strength and self-efficacy to others.

Etymology

From 'em-' (to cause to be) and 'power,' literally meaning 'to cause to have power.' The word emerged in the 1960s during social movements emphasizing individual agency and capability.

Kelly Says

Empowerment creates measurable changes in brain activity - people who feel empowered show increased activity in the prefrontal cortex and decreased activity in the amygdala, literally thinking more clearly and feeling less threatened. True empowerment is contagious, spreading through social networks.

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