Today is a remarkable time to be a woman

Women today are shaping tomorrow’s future. Having manifested a greater equality than we’ve ever seen before, women have created very real change in our communities as our opportunities continue to increase. Most of us are able to attain higher education and impressive salaries. We have the freedom to be single, to travel, to do whatever we want and be whomever we want to be.

Even with this expansive landscape of opportunity before us, there seems to be something missing. Regardless of how high we climb up the corporate ladder, how many impressive achievements we accumulate, or how many personal goals we accomplish, many women today remain unfulfilled.

Our self-worth is constantly tangled with persistent worry about how the world views us.

In today’s world, we place too much value on what we can produce and achieve, instead of in who we are or have the potential to be. Our self-worth is constantly tangled with persistent worry about how the world views us. More often than not, we question ourselves: Can I say that? Can I do that? Can I date him? We look too much to the outside world for validation and, clearly, that is not the solution.

Ultimately, our success will lie in strengthening the relationship we have with ourselves. Our best ally is already here.

The first way we can foster this relationship is by listening to our bodies. The aches and stiffness we often overlook are there for a reason; our body signals pain quite purposefully, so we can give it the attention it needs to heal. If your body is signaling depression or anxiety, listen.

Set aside time to cultivate an area of your life that inspires stillness and peace.

Step two: use the tools you have to find quiet. Take a meditative yoga class or even a meditation course. Go for a walk in nature and leave the headphones at home. Journal, paint, or dance – whatever it is, set aside time to cultivate an area of your life that inspires stillness and peace.

Once you start to listen to your physical body, you’ll notice something else speaking to you. Spirit, soul, chi, prana – whatever you want to call it – will start speaking more loudly as your world gets quieter. It’s constantly communicating to you through basic instincts and hunches. It is vital to listen to this voice and trust your intuition, even if your logical mind insists on doing the opposite. If you have a feeling about something, honor it. Acknowledge this voice and explore where it’s coming from.

With these new skills of listening and understanding comes the potential for action. Perhaps your intuition is telling you it’s time to change careers. Are you open and willing to change? Sometimes the messages you get will inspire action that might be previously unheard of or even intimidating. Even if you are getting a difficult message, remember that you hold the keys to change. Don’t wait for your partner, parent, employer or anyone else to tell you what is right. Hold on to your personal power, and follow your inner voice.

True empowerment is not waiting for the world to fulfill us, but it’s finding that fulfillment within ourselves, and then being able to give back to the world.

Now, this process isn’t necessarily easy. It might help to find a guide, someone who has done this work already, to help you take the first steps. With motivation and the right support, you can do this.

As women continue to defy the odds and forge powerful paths, the success of our evolution lies in fostering a healthy relationship with ourselves. We need to trust ourselves and know that we really do know what’s best.
True empowerment is not waiting for the world to fulfill us, but it’s finding that fulfillment within ourselves, and then being able to give back to the world.

Regardless of who you are, where you live, what religion you practice or what your personal set of values are, you have the potential to nurture something beautiful within yourself. Explore your remarkable and unique internal landscape. Take this journey and I promise, it will be the adventure of your lifetime.