Ladies, We Are Enough — Lionesses of Africa

by Margaret Hirsch

As we rejoice Ladies’s Day this week, I believed I’d commit this to all of you fantastic ladies on the market. My favorite story of all time – the primary half completely satisfied – the second half unhappy. Our job as ladies is to alter this narrative!

Q: What’s the distinction between a intelligent and a silly man?

A: There is no such thing as a distinction, they each assume they know every little thing!

Q: What’s the distinction between a intelligent lady and a silly lady?

A: There is no such thing as a distinction, they each doubt themselves!!

How true is that!! I’m associates with a number of the strongest ladies on the planet and guess what? They nonetheless doubt themselves, regardless of that they’re tremendous wealthy, highly effective, in a superb relationship, each time they do something, they all the time look to somebody to ask “How did I do? Was I okay?” Even ladies like Michelle Obama on the peak of her fame requested Oprah Winfrey the identical questions after her interview. In her ebook “Turning into” Michelle Obama retains questioning if she is nice sufficient and retains searching for recognition of the actual fact from everybody round her.

The primary purpose of my life is to work with ladies to indicate them the way to consider in themselves and turn into financially unbiased. A financially unbiased lady has decisions, she will select the place she lives and who she lives with. She will feed, dress, and educate her youngsters. It’s been my biggest pleasure to work with ladies throughout the continent of Africa and assist them to realize their objectives, all by themselves. At the moment so many of those ladies are instructing and nurturing different ladies to do the identical. The sisterhood of African ladies is in contrast to another on the planet. That is an incredible continent that abounds with robust ladies!

Girls, I need you to take an previous lipstick, go to a mirror the place you’re and put in your make-up and write in large letters proper throughout the highest of that mirror: I AM ENOUGH!! Simply know that you’re sufficient. In case you take a look at it lengthy sufficient you’ll notice that you’re sufficient, simply as you’re. You’re precisely as God made you and keep in mind he made you in His picture! You’re precisely the particular person he needed you to be, however the great point is you may change that particular person at any time. An orangutang will all the time have orange hair, a zebra will all the time have black and white stripes, however I used to be born with pitch black hair, it was black until I turned 50 and at the moment I made a decision that blondes have extra enjoyable, so I grew to become blonde. Girls we have now the flexibility to alter ourselves and turn into the lady we need to be, and never solely in appears to be like, however we are able to additionally change the best way we act and behave. Sure, you must be your genuine self, however my life has been spent turning into a greater model of myself. Tony Robbins teaches Kaizen – “Fixed and unending enchancment” and that’s what life is all about.

Life isn’t a vacation spot, it’s a journey of self-discovery, and it’s as much as you to hone in in your strengths and ignore your weaknesses. How typically can we spend time attempting to right our weaknesses and we’re nonetheless not happy? Simply construct in your strengths and your weaknesses will fall by the wayside.

As ladies we’re so acutely aware of what different (ladies) say about us. Nicely, I need to inform you that what somebody thinks or says about you has completely nothing to do with you! It belongs to them and allow them to preserve it, it’s none of what you are promoting. Give attention to what’s vital to you and what’s going to find yourself making you a greater particular person. The saying goes, “it’s best to work tougher on your self than you do in your job”, and private progress for girls completely requires a shift in mindset. You can not assume like a wealthy particular person and keep poor, and by the identical token you can’t assume like a poor particular person and turn into wealthy. You’re wealthy or poor (not essential financially) however in your thoughts first, and whenever you get your thoughts proper you may be shocked at how rapidly the remainder of your life comes proper.

When you’ve got a perception that you’re not adequate, that you’re someway lacking one thing that may catapult you to being the lady you need to be, then all you must do is figure in your private progress. The web is wonderful, folks like Jim Rohn, Tony Robbins, Les Brown, and should you like ladies audio system there’s Mel Robbins (no relation to Tony), Dr Michelle Rozen, Erin Stafford, Heather McGowan, and my all-time favorite, Marisa Peer.

I used to be by no means a girly woman, I used to be by no means in the primary group of standard ladies as a result of I used to be all the time totally different, and I moved faculties so much, so I by no means actually acquired the prospect to settle and get a incredible group of associates. Nonetheless, I’ve had the privilege of discovering some actually true associates, a few of whom I’ve been associates with for over 50 years. As ladies it’s vital to have a tribe of close-knit associates who you realize you may name on at any time. There are these you simply cellphone for a chat, to vent and get issues off your chest, those that can cellphone to debate enterprise alternatives (and calamities), these you may cellphone whenever you really feel like going for a swim, hike or simply getting some train, associates you may chat to about your youngsters (and grandchildren). Nurturing these relationships takes time, effort and vitality and keep in mind you all the time have to provide earlier than you may obtain. It’s important to be the absolute best pal to that particular person, they usually should be capable to belief you implicitly with their most intimate secrets and techniques. It’s so vital to have a pal you may open up to, as typically when speaking to them you handle to seek out the solutions to the questions your self! All they wanted to do was hearken to you, and by speaking it’s potential so that you can work by way of the issue by yourself!

Irrespective of how incredible your husband is (and I feel I acquired the decide of the crop), males don’t perceive the truth that we have now to debate issues. If I’ve an issue and focus on it with my husband, he’ll give me a solution – do that or do this – that isn’t what I’m wanting in any respect. I needed to chew the cud, go time and again the identical factor till I work out the answer in my very own thoughts. Males don’t like that kind of factor; they’re fixers and need to offer you an answer to the issue immediately. Good associates are usually not solely vital, however they’re additionally important. I like the Dolly Parton/Kenny Rogers music “You possibly can’t make previous associates” – you actually can’t – as you get older it’s vital to have some actually good previous associates. How are you aware if she is an efficient pal? An excellent pal is aware of what you’re like and likes you anyway.

I favor the phrases self-belief to self-confidence, you must know that you are able to do something, have something, and be the particular person you need to be as long as you set sufficient effort into the duty and actually consider that you are able to do it. From at the moment make it your mantra to go on the market and look good, really feel good, be good and do good! And you’re sufficient!

A lot Love,

Margaret Hirsch