The Essential Feminine Company - Empowering Women to Create Successful Businesses and Lives

Spring is almost here; a time for new growth, new beginnings.  This is a time when creativity stirs within us.  Can we bring forth our own growth and the expression of it and live our destiny? This weekend we will set our clocks forward.  Will we set our lives forward? 

Remembering your destiny is so much more than simply recalling some ephemeral past memories.  It is actually returning to, and rediscovering your whole self.  It is a full realization of your extraordinary place in the tapestry of life. 

In order to live a fully expressed and alive life, it is essential to stretch beyond your normal comfort zone.  Take some time to explore your inner self. Let yourself have the freedom to imagine new possibilities in the areas of career, finances, fitness, well-being, friendship and love.  Say “yes” to new opportunities and practice being fascinated with your own answers to these questions.

• What innate talents do I possess:
• What are my greatest gifts?
• What do I enjoy doing so much that I lose track of time while I’m doing it?
• What are the guiding principles of my life – what is my polestar?
• What do I love the most about life?

This year it is a time for restoring the “feminine” in us all and for emerging leadership for women.  Take a moment to gain the powerful and on-going support of other women on the journey towards becoming themselves and join us in The Essential Feminine Companyâ„¢ “Living Room” for an hour’s conversation on “Inviting The New, The Different and The Good Into Our Lives” which will take place on March 24, at noon PST.  This is a free event which will happen on the fourth Wednesday of the month, with a new topic each month.   You will need to register for this month’s event at https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/448858688 

I hope to see you there.

Each of us has the ability to make a huge difference in our world! As my favorite Irish poet John O’ Donohue has written in Anam Cara:

“… There is a unique destiny for each person. Each one of has something to do here that can be done by no one else. If someone else could fulfill your destiny then they would be in your place and you would not be here…”

 Having grown up in an Irish family and community… I must admit I do love the directness of the Irish. John’s statement is direct and fairly opinionated but opens many questions in my own mind. I have always interpreted Johns words to mean that we are each unique and each hold an important part of the whole.  It has strongly led me to believe that the world needs our unique offering. This quote often guides me to look more deeply at what I believe and value; to look more closely at what really lights my fire. I have found it useful in my journey to ask myself:

•  What issues or causes on the planet do I feel most strongly about?
• What is my unique destiny?
• What are my greatest gifts, strengths and talents and where can they make the most contribution?
• Where do I experience the most joy and satisfaction?
• What do I want more of in my life (of the things that I most value)?

I believe that NOW is the time for us to share our uniqueness with the world.  We need to be “Women Influencing Now” to help bring a balance into the world.  For that we need to live dynamically.  It is clear to me that part of the art of alive and dynamic living is staying “awake at the wheel”.  These questions awaken me to stay on course, moving closer to my own unique contribution.

 What do you really believe in and value? What questions do you need to ask yourself right now to find your true beliefs and direction?

What kinds of risks can you to take that will bring you closer to the life you were meant for? What is the conversation about your life that you most often return to that no longer serves you? What would you like to be, do or have that you keep relegating to the domain of “someday”? What wakes you up in the wee hours of the morning, seeking your undivided attention? Is there a dream that you’ve given up on or a joy you’ve forgotten?

Remembering your destiny is so much more than simply recalling some ephemeral past memories. It is actually a returning to, a rediscovery of your whole self and a full realization of your extraordinary place in the tapestry of life.

In order to live a fully expressed and alive life, it is absolutely essential on a daily basis to stretch beyond your normal comfort zone. Try something you’ve never done before. Let yourself have the freedom to imagine new possibilities in the areas of career, finances, fitness, well-being, friendship and love. Say “yes” to an opportunity that arises. And practice being utterly fascinated with your own answers to these questions:

• What innate talents do I possess?
• What are my greatest gifts?
• What do I enjoy doing so much that I lose track of time while I’m doing it?
• What are the guiding principles of my life—what is my polestar?
• What do I love the most about life?
• How can I have powerful and on-going support for taking risks and living fully?

Several years ago in a blog entitled “Are Women In The US Really Leading?”, I commented on a global survey ranking women in the area of gender equality that was compiled by “The White House Project”.  The survey stated that “The United States ranks 22nd out of 115 countries.”  The report utilized 4 measurement standards: economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment.  We came in first for Health and Survival, and third for Economic Opportunity.  But, we received our lowest score for Political Empowerment, coming in 66th. 

I wondered about our progress since that time and went looking for an updated report.  I discovered a thought provoking and heart touching blog written by Mary C. Wilson for “The White House Project Blog”, entitled A False Divide Between Head and Heart: What I Learned From Robert McNamara.  It is well worth reading in its entirety.

As for the report, she states in her blog, “Women are still vastly underrepresented in the halls of power. As the soon-to-be-released “White House Project Report: Benchmarking Women’s Leadership” has found, women are far from parity in every sector, from business and politics to sports and religion. Projections show that it will take decades to reach even a critical mass in many of these arenas; and the women who do make it into positions of power often do so at great sacrifice.”

 Do we have decades?

 Becoming leaders takes courage and determination and most of all a willingness to step forward.  It can not and will not be done for us.  Though, each of us must take that step for ourselves, we need not do it alone.

 

 

…”tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than suffering itself.  No heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams because every second of the search is a second encounter with God and eternity.

 

,,,follow the path laid out.  The path to destiny and to happiness.  Most people see the world as a threatening place, and because they do the world turns out indeed to be a threatening place.”

 

Paulo Koelho

Excerpts from The Alchemist

 

One of our greatest challenges in today’s economic climate is to overcome our fears.  Masters of great spiritual teachings and others reiterate the message that fear is our greatest enemy.  Our fears stop us from having a full life and reaching our dreams.  Now is the time to replace fear with trust and to move from immobility to great mobility.  We do this through listening to and following our inner knowing and thereby moving in the direction of our dreams.  As we take steps in this direction we learn to trust ourselves, gain greater confidence and bring to us all that is needed to succeed. 

 

Be clear about what your dreams are and as you move in their direction.  You will gain all the support you need to bring them to fruition.

 Maureen Simon

www.maureensimon.com

http://globaldialoguecenter.blogs.com/women/

As John O Donohue the famous Irish writer said, “…to be born is to be chosen. No one is here by accident”. I love that thought because it deepens my inquiry as to why I am actually here!  I also find the statement to be bold. Irish writers are not afraid to be bold or to think outside of the box!

I know that there are many arguments that can and have been made regarding John’s statement above, but I totally agree with his wise words. The above quote comes from John’s stellar work Anam Cara (soul friend in Irish). In Anam Cara John goes on to write,” This selectivity intimates a sheltering providence that dreamed you, created you and always minds you. You were not consulted on the major factors that shaped your destiny: when you were born; to whom you were born or. where you would be born. Imagine the difference it would have made to your life had you been born into the house next door.

John’s conversation above gets me thinking:

 For what have I been chosen?

If my life is not an accident, there must be deep meaning for my life. Am I living up to this sacred contract?  How can I take my commitment to live fully to the next level?

Consider asking yourself the above questions.  And, for a new perspective on life, ask yourself, “What would it have been like if I had been born next door?”

 Maureen Simon 

www.theessentialfeminine.com

www.maureensimon.com