I'm Every Woman!

This week, we celebrated International Woman's Day – not something I take lightly. I honor, respect and celebrate the women who have 'walked before me' – without whom I would not be living this life of freedom and opportunity.

This past weekend, I spoke at the Amazing Woman's Day event in Toronto – the Canadian launch of this international initiative. Wow! Words cannot describe the experience. There's something very powerful when a room is filled with women, from all walks of life, each with their own story - mothers – sisters – entrepreneurs – career women – retirees – stepmoms – daughters – entertainers – authors – visionaries and so on.

There was a very full agenda of inspirational speakers, feminine leaders, entertainers, award winners and women who were there to learn, to share, to support and to network. And then we danced into the wee hours of the night.....such joy!

I was amazed!

What makes a woman 'amazing'? Marsh Engle shares that there are "6 Essentials":
• Envision: Be Willing To Grow Beyond The Defined.
• Empower: Find The Yes In All Things.
• Ignite: Ignite The Power of Possibilities.
• Explore: Play With Fresh Curiosity.
• Trust: Collaborate With Sheer Trust.
• Embrace: Bring Your Brilliance To Life.

As you read those words, what comes to mind for your own life?

I've always had a big vision for my life; however, I also grew up with some very powerful conditioning that, in the early years, held me back. As I hold the dream of being an international speaker, with a best-selling book, - I can still hear my father's words: 'don't get too big for your britches!" This was always said with love and care, I know; however, as a young child we aren't able to disce
in that way. As we grow and mature and have big dreams, it is just those kinds of words that tend to come to mind and can, if we choose, hold us back from becoming the best person we can be.

Many of the speakers, last weekend, were sharing stories about how our conditioning and core beliefs hold us back in life, and in business. Having worked in the field of personal development for over 20 years, I am blessed to have mastered the techniques of getting past those mental barriers, achieving more of my potential and continuing to dream big constantly. One of my strategies is to have great mentors (much like I discussed the need to have heroes in last week's issue). That's what I saw happening this past weekend – relationships were developing and connections were being made with mentors.

Those are powerful words that Marsh shares: Envision, Empower, Ignite, Explore, Trust and Embrace!

As women, we are more alike than different. I really discovered that as I traveled around the world, twice, and made it a point to have conversations with women in different countries. These photos show you how true that is – my friend Gail is 'exploring' by trying a new dish in Cambodia: elephant ear fish (yum!) – to these lovely young women in Viet Nam who 'embrace" new cultures, each and every day, as they greet travelers at the airport!

"Only in relationship can you know yourself, not in abstraction, and certainly not in isolation." – Jiddu Krishnamurti, 1895-1986

What is an amazing woman? Who is an amazing woman? I say it is each and every one of us. Our responsibility, to honor the women who have gone before us, is to ensure we live our best life, each and every day.

Do you? If not, why not? If not now, then when?

Assignment
1. What is one thing you can do, today, to live your best life? (As Tim McGraw sings: "live as though you're dying!")
2. Find a mentor – give yourself permission to grow, learn and develop to become the best person you can be.
3. Take time for you – find a retreat, or a conference, or a workshop where you can go and meet some amazing women! (gee....keep reading.....there's one coming in May at the Elmhurst Inn!)

Do some of these exercises and I guarantee that you will start to live your best life. When you try new things, you are developing the confidence and courage to move forward and invent the life you truly want to live.