This article from ASPIRE MAG spoke to me in so many ways:
The Commandments of Courageous, Confident Women
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1. Know thyself.
Feedback, input, guidance, mentoring…all vitally important to brilliant
women BUT, no one knows you like you. Finding your authentic voice and
listening to your intuition should always be the barometer for your
next steps. Trust it, it will never steer you wrong. When you live
authentically, honoring who you are, courage and confidence are natural
ingredients and increase exponentially.
2. You are enough.
You’re smart, talented to the stars and back, but you find yourself
second guessing your capabilities and allowing that mean lil’ devil girl
on your shoulder to poke you with her pitchfork of fear, insecurity,
doubt, and limiting beliefs. You wait, feeling that you are not quite
ready, when in fact you are more ready than you know. Courageous
confident women know that they will feel fear and uncertainty, but push
forward in spite of it, knowing that mistakes are opportunities to learn
and grow. You have infinite and priceless worth in your authentic
self.
3. Clarity Is Queen.
You know exactly what you want (and what you don’t want); you are aware
of when your values and priorities change and adjust accordingly.
Being afraid to say what you want and declare it does not serve you.
Courageous confident women have their own personal blueprint for
success. Clarity is personal power squared.
4. Balance Does Not Exist.
In honoring all the wonderful pieces of you, you know that the
traditional term of balance does not exist. Balance indicates no
motion; when a scale is perfectly proportioned it doesn’t move. Your
life is about proportion, equilibrium, seasons, and ebbs and flows. In
reality, balance should be redefined as a blend of your life, not pieces
of a pie that must be divided equally. True balance is about
flexibility, adaptability, and course corrections on your personal
compass.
5. Thou Shall Practice Self Care.
Eating well, getting enough sleep, exercising, taking time to feed and
nourish your body, spirit and soul are your divine rights. Successful
women make themselves a priority and not an option. Practicing self
care is allows you to stretch, grow and learn; as well as providing you
with comfort, cozy rituals, and time to decompress and recharge.
Courageous confident women show the world that they respect and love
themselves.
6. This Too Shall Pass.
Courageous confident women know that there will be challenging, trying,
and the ‘valley of shadow’ times in their lives, but they do not dwell
on them nor do they live in the past or worry about the future. They do
not fixate on the things that they do not have the power to change and
look for solutions in what they can control. They focus on the present
and what the priorities are here and now.
7. The Sky Is Beyond the Limit.
Dreaming big is a state of mind. Why not you? Why can’t you live your
biggest, most audacious, bodacious dreams and desires? Successful
women know that ‘playing big’ has nothing to do with quantifying bigness
and everything to do with the quality of bigness. The key is making sure your values are in alignment with your dreams. They are the
soul twins of playing big. Courageous, confident women are optimistic,
expansive in their thinking, and know that manifesting and action go
together.
8. Follow Thy Passion.
The most illuminated and brilliant women heed the call of their
passion. It may not be loud trumpets sounding or angels singing; it may
be a quiet voice that keeps trying to be heard in your soul. It may
not appear as a job or a career; it may feel like a calling or a
vocation. However it appears to you, it is irresistible in its siren
song. Courageous confident women know there may not be one grand
passion, but a ‘portfolio of passions’, it’s about creating a ledger of
legacy that reflects the gifts, value and service you bring to the
world.
9. Surround Thyself with Success.
Brilliance begets brilliance. Believe it and it will rub some sparkly
light on you. One of my mentors refers to this as your Jedi Council.
These are the people that are role models, coaches, supporters, and
encouragers. These Jedi Knights aid and abet in your awesomeness. They
show you the possibilities that you don’t see in yourself. They may be
near and dear to you or people you’ve never even met. They inspire,
motivate, and kick your gorgeous little tush when needed. Courageous
confident women have a wise council of like minded Jedis on their side.
10. Energy In=Energy Out.
You are the Energy Force in your life. Everything (people, activities,
thoughts) either give you energy or drain it from you. The whole
concept of balance (see Commandment 4) is created because you are doing
too many activities that drain you. Courageous confident women know
that to live their ideal life they must create boundaries, learn to say a
gracious no, and continually seek the energy giving moments.
Live in the infinite beauty and possibilities of who you are…it is so very bright here.
