Empowerment is a big word that means many different things to different people. Normally you think of the word empowerment in terms of women’s empowerment, right?
Since the 1960’s and the rise of feminism, women’s empowerment has been a buzzword.
In 2001 when I started my business and a very famous author/mentor of mine asked me what my topic was, I said empowering women to reach their full potential by creating a life and business that flows from their passion.
His reply, “Empowerment is such an old word. It really doesn’t have any impact anymore.”
I probably would have listened to him, since I was brand new if it weren’t for the fact that I heard Oprah use that word on her show that afternoon.
So I decided that Oprah was connected to my market more than a famous old guy. And I’ve been focused on empowering women ever since.
This video covers a lot of what is written in this article and a few other things.
Today, while some women over 50 are coming fully into their power, many other women are becoming more cautious, worried that they are losing their importance and influence, not only in the workplace but overall in their lives.
What could cause you to be in one camp or the other?
Women have been conditioned to fit in, be quiet and play by the rules.
When we don’t follow the rules and want to control our own fate and say what’s on our minds, we are called difficult or labeled as a bitch.
Some of us claimed our power very early in our lives, others are still waiting, hoping there’s a good time, not wanting to rock the boat.
When I was in my early 20’s I started reading Wayne Dyers’s books. In one he tells the story of coming home from grade school and saying that his teacher called him a scurvy elephant. Turns out she said he was a disturbing element.
From that point forward, I’ve always wanted to be a scurvy elephant. 40 years later, that’s still what I strive for.
Do I get scared? Yes.
Do I chicken out when I really wish I was brave enough to do something? Sometimes.
What I have learned is that…
Risk-taking builds confidence. We need to get used to failing and struggling.
Striving for perfection and people pleasing lead to not taking risks.
Neither helps us to be empowered.
We have to overcome something to gain confidence.
We have to be willing to speak up even when it feels like no one is listening to us. Yet.
We have to do things that make us uncomfortable to become comfortable in living as our true authentic selves.
We have to be willing to fail as much as we want to succeed.
We also have to become comfortable with how we look, today. I know I have. Have you?
I know many of us haven’t because I’ve had phone conversations about it, private messages and emails.
You have to come to terms with the fact that you’re not 20 anymore.
Why do you expect yourself to look like you are? That’s just unrealistic.
Our fears about our appearance affect our decisions.
It keeps us from having the business we could have, having the joy of expressing ourselves and doing what we love in the way we really want to do it.
For my kitchen videos, I just walk into the kitchen and do it. I look the way I look the rest of the day. That’s one of the perks of working at home.
For the occasional video like this, I put on a nicer shirt, try to make my hair behave better, paint on eyebrows, eyeliner and lipstick. 5 minutes is an amount of time I’m willing to spend.
I figure if I’m comfortable with how I look, you’ll have to be ok with it too, or not watch me anymore. I’m not going to change who I am to try and look different than I normally look.
Maybe every once in a while, I’ll dress like a professional. 😉
Yesterday I saw a quote from Iyanla Vanzant that said, “Comparison is an act of violence against the self.”
[Tweet “”Comparison is an act of violence against the self.” Iyanla Vanzant”]
Wow! Take a minute to take that in. “Comparison is an act of violence against the self.”
We are too important for that kind of behavior.
The gifts we have to share matter!
Our happiness matters!
Do you think I care if people think I’m crazy for doing the unboxing videos every Wednesday?
If I did, I wouldn’t do them.
Some people have expressed they think it is off brand. I can see their point, but I also feel like I’m being authentically who I am.
Organic veggies bring me joy and I want to help others feel that same joy of appreciating what nature provides and how it can improve our health and expand our taste buds.
Part of being ageless is having an ageless healthy body. So I think it is part of my brand, but that’s not really the point.
Why should I have to hide a big part of who I am because not all of my Facebook friends will care about this particular topic?
Half of my FB friends are men, so they may not care abotu this topic. Should that stop me from doing this video? Of course not!
My unboxing videos make me happy. I enjoy talking about food, health and nutrition.
I’ve had people tell me how the few videos I did last season inspired them to go to farmers markets, buy orgnaic, try new things, or cook more.
People taking action makes me happy!
So this season I decided to challenge us both by showing you the vegetables I get and giving their nutrition and healing properties, so you know why you want to eat these things.
It also challenged me to not just make the same thing when for several weeks I’d get the same ingredients.
I’m doing new recipes for you every single week for 26 weeks, usually 3 recipes a week, sometimes more.
The fact that I’m not doing weekly videos on other topics doesn’t mean they aren’t important to me. I’m more likely to write an article than to jump on and do a video.
The important thing is that we are out there doing what makes us feel vital and alive.
Also, that we continue to grow and change as we become more and more empowered and ageless, body, mind, and soul.
I’ve made this my #1 goal in my business since day 1 back in 2001 when I created the 40 day personal transformation system, Change One Thing, Change Your Life.
And in 2004 when I created the Women’s Business Empowerment Summit, the first major event for soul-based women information marketers.
In 2014 with this site, and premiering next month, the Empowered and Ageless Inner Circle.
I would love to have you comment here with your tips for being empowered and ageless in your life and business.
Until next time, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Just comment on this post here or on Facebook.
If you would like private mentoring, go to the contact page above and tell me what you would like help with. As your mentor, whether for your health, your lifestyle or your business, I hold a bigger vision for you than you hold for yourself. When you have faith and a team that believes in you, it gives you courage. When you don’t have to do it all yourself, all things are possible for you. Commit today to go for your dream 100%.
With over 40 years in sales and marketing, along with 45 years studying human behavior, Lynn Pierce, “The Voice of Women Empowered to Create an Ageless Body, Mind & Soul After 50” mentors soul-based entrepreneurs to reach your own personal version of success and an ageless lifestyle. Tell Lynn what the life of your dreams looks like, and she’ll create the blueprints to get you there, along with the sales system to fund it. Lynn is the author of, “Breakthrough to Success; 19 Keys to Mastering Every Area of Your Life”. Claim your free special report, “What Do You Stand For” here
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