Empowered women

All my work is about empowering women. To do so, I have to work relentlessly on my own empowerment. But what exactly does it mean? What do I understand by “empowered woman”? What does it mean to yourself? Here are a few traits I consider to belong to empowered women and this is what guides my own life.

1. An Empowered woman honours her authenticity

She does not compare herself, she knows her own limited beliefs, her own fears and darkness, yet she understands that her self-worth is not negotiable. She knows her life has a purpose and she shares her gifts with others. With this clarity, she listens to the feedback on her life or work, but she does not act according to someone else’s rules or to some socio-cultural context, she follows her own rules and values.

To live her uniqueness, she respects the uniqueness of everybody else and she supports other empowered women and men on her path. She does her best and she stays detached from the results, because they don’t define her or her value.

To live an authentic life, she needs to cultivate the courage to overcome her fears and the trust in her own resilience to overcome her doubts. Her vulnerability is her strength, not her weakness.

2. An Empowered woman takes full responsibility for her life

I spent too many years blaming the circumstances for the life I had. It was very glamorous on the surface, moving from one country to another one, living in nice houses, having a chauffeur, attending VIP parties and living the “expat” life, but there was as well a dark side of this life: a lot of solitude, a lot of “out of comfort zone” moments (so many that the “out of comfort” zone becomes actually THE comfort zone), and often a total material and emotional dependency on the husband. You know what? There is a new word I read: trailing spouse… what the heck? When I read this, I had the feeling of being in the tail end behind my husband’s career… Someone else decides when you leave and where you go, sometimes in the middle of the school year, or when you just started a new job…

It’s OK if it’s what you really want. An empowered woman knows there is ALWAYS a choice and she knows that whatever she chooses, she has to take the responsibility for her choice. Blame doesn’t exist in the life of an empowered woman.

3. An Empowered woman gives herself the permission to live her passion

She knows that it is her birthright to breathe freely, to create freely, to live the life she wants to live and express her passion in her unique way. She does not need the permission, affirmation, or approval of anyone else. She kindles her inner fire, she takes care about it and she doesn’t let anybody to tell her otherwise. She builds her life around her passion. She invests on herself and her personal and professional development.

4. An Empowered woman finds her voice

She knows her values and she knows her worth. She respects herself and she respects everybody else and their differences. She takes a stand for what she believes in regardless circumstances. She finds her truth, stands for it, she sets the boundaries to protect her own space and she knows exactly where to draw the line and say NO. Uses her voice for herself but as well for those who are in a less privileged situation to stand up for the truth, justice and peace. She will not shut up because of fear.

5. An Empowered woman chooses the people in her life

She understands that she cannot be everything to everybody, she understands and accepts that her path may be lonely and she surrounds herself with like-minded people who honour and respect her.

Everything and everybody that puts her down, doesn’t support her dreams and her right to live her authentic life or tries to diminish her is OUT of her life. She knows how to make hard decisions with a soft heart. She knows that it may lead her to painful places out of her comfort zone, but she accepts it as her way to learn and grow.

6. An Empowered woman honours her body

She knows her body is the vehicle for her inner fire, for her passion, for her purpose and for her love. She makes right choices for her body and treat it with respect. Food, drinks, movement, sex and care are conscious and practiced with self-love and self-esteem. She knows there is a time for action and a time for rest. She listens carefully to her body and she acts on its message. Self-care is one of her priorities.

7. An Empowered woman has an open mind and an open heart

She loves, but her love has a direction. She is passionate, but with responsibility. She knows her needs and she works on them. She knows her values and she lives her integrity. She uses power with full responsibility. She loves with a soft heart but with discernment. And she starts always with love and respect for herself.

8. An Empowered woman knows when to ask for help

She knows her needs, her skills and capacities and her limits. She is able to ask for help when she needs it, she knows that being an empowered woman doesn't mean you have to do everything alone. She may ask for help from her partner, a friend or a professional.

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An Empowered woman has the clarity, knows her values and worth, dreams big, follows her goals, works hard, enjoys life and loves freely.

So, what is your vision of an empowered woman? Do you consider yourself one? Please, share with me your own experience.