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In this powerful episode, Kim and Louise sit down with life and business alignment coach Valerie Friedlander to unpack the layers of empowerment, personal agency, and navigating social systems. Valerie shares her philosophy on individual empowerment with systemic awareness, diving into the importance of recognizing the systems that shape our lives and how we can reclaim our choices within them. Together, they explore how to guide children in developing their sense of agency, discuss the obstacles to empowerment for adults, and underline the importance of curiosity and self-advocacy as tools for personal growth. This episode is a thought-provoking call to action for anyone ready to reclaim their power and question the norms around them.

"Empowerment isn’t about giving people something; it’s about removing obstacles that prevent them from accessing their own power and making choices that align with who they are." - Valerie Friedlander

Key Takeaways:

• Empowerment through Choice: Empowerment comes from having the ability to make choices, big or small, that are true to yourself. Recognizing this starts with understanding what’s within your control.
• Curiosity as a Tool for Growth: Curiosity can help break down internalized beliefs and question the norms that may be limiting us.
• Systems and Personal Agency: Systems like education, healthcare, and workplaces can unknowingly (or knowingly) disempower us. Identifying these systems helps us navigate and advocate for our personal power.
• Guiding the Next Generation: Empowering children means creating safe spaces where they can make age-appropriate choices and develop a healthy sense of agency.
• Self-Advocacy and Boundaries: Understanding the difference between what belongs to you and what belongs to others is essential for setting healthy boundaries and reclaiming agency.

Key Moments:

[0:00 ] Introduction and Celebrations

[5:30 ] Introducing Valerie Friedlander

[10:20 ] The Power of Body Awareness

[16:00 ] Defining Empowerment and Personal Agency

[23:10 ] The Moment of Agency

[30:00 ] Empowering Children and Adolescents

[38:00 ] The Impact of Systems on Empowerment

[43:30 ] Curiosity as a Pathway to Self-Awareness

[48:00 ] Takeaways and Final Reflections

[51:30 ] Wrap-Up and Where to Find Valerie

Connect with Valerie:

Website: https://valeriefriedlander.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/unlimitedcoachval

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/unlimitedcoachval

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@unlimitedcoachval

Are you ready to reclaim your power and live (and work) with more ease? Discover your unique blueprint to do just that with Kim's Strengthscape Self-Mastery Profile.

Looking for something different and feeling lost about where to start? Rediscover your purpose and how to craft a career that makes sense. Check out Louise's Midlife Career Mastery program.

** Proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective. **