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

“Ideas and products and messages and behaviors spread just like viruses do”.
The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell

I believe that there has not been a time in modern history on a cross-cultural and global basis where men and women have stood side by side, providing leadership that equally respects and acknowledges both masculine and feminine attributes. I believe that that time has now come. It is now time for us to create a more equitable, harmonious and more successful business, political and community environments as we integrate the feminine and masculine traits. Women have an opportunity to now step forward and to chose to make greater leadership contributions across these arenas by leveraging the innate feminine attributes that they have for so long set aside in order to adapt to the masculine culture that defines our world today.

So what will it take for a major awakening in women to occur? How will women realize that when the strong feminine gifts that we hold are integrated in to the decisions of the world that healing of wars, corrupt businesses and our planet will follow? Malcolm Gladwell in his brilliant book, “The Tipping Point”, speaks about ideas, products, and messages spreading like viruses. It is now time for women to understand and own the essential role that their feminine attributes contribute such as relationship building, web thinking, inclusive communication, to name a few. These attributes must be honored and valued by ourselves before a tipping point in awareness or the collective conscience can occur.

As a woman, do you understand the unique and precious values and gifts that your feminine attributes can play in the world? Where can you contribute your wisdom, knowledge and care to make a difference in the world? We must understand and value the gifts of the feminine in order for there to be a tipping point that travels across the world and proudly claims – that women hold an essential role in the world today.

Many women are exploring ways to create more success in their lives. I think that’s great, but I think there’s more to life for women than just success. So often we have been putting on the trousers, climbing the ladder, and doing things in a masculine way in all areas of our life. The problem with this is that we inevitably leave an important part of our authentic self behind- our feminine self. It’s important to keep in mind that women are predisposed genetically and through socialization- to a whole series of unique assets talents and gifts that are special and sourced in our feminine nature.

How can we begin to use these feminine gifts in a way that allows us to contribute at a high level, fully expressing our power and doing so from a feminine perspective? The answer to this could lead you to one of the most freeing revelations of your life. Every woman has a personal response to this question in my twenty-five years of working with women I have heard hundreds. What’s yours? 

We must first begin, by valuing our unique feminine gifts such as our verbal agility, our ability to give care and compassion, our Natural gift to see and perceive the whole of a situation, work environment or even the whole needs of the world. I believe these gifts come from having been the givers of birth and life since the beginning of time. That’s quite a credential. We need to claim this and live it in our work in corporations in our voice and concern in politics and thorough our unique and gentle care of our children and the planet. Social researchers have put a price on the value that women add to the bottom line in corporations. It’s time for us to value these gifts in all areas of our life.

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?

More so than ever before in the last fifty years, uncertainty is a part of everyday life. We are living today in a time when a lack of economic security, stressed relationships, and world upheaval puts pressure on each of us.  To flourish in the face of this pressure, it is necessary to step back, take charge and consider what goal we want to move towards.  An important question to ask is:  What do I want to come of this?   Since doubt comes when we hold conflicting desires, being clear of our purpose is the first step in becoming free from our doubts and fears.  Knowing our purpose and holding it steadfastly allows the things we need to come towards us. 

 By understanding our purpose and ourselves, we can be confident in the face of the world’s uncertainty.  If our purpose is aligned with hope and the highest possible good, it cannot fail.  So, ask yourself where your greatest about of uncertainty lies.  Ask why it exists in your life at this time and what you can learn about yourself from it.  Ask what is the highest good that can come from it.  Let the answers come to you and you may be surprised at you inner strength and reserves.

 

“There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. If you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is; nor how valuable it is; nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep open and aware directly to the urges that motivate *you*. Keep the channel open . . . No artist is pleased . . . There is no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is only a queer, divine dissatisfaction; a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others.” Martha Graham

These words of Martha Graham are especially appropriate now when a multitude of forces are attempting to make us smaller, more closed in, more fearful. Now is the time when we should be vigilant, keeping open to our inner knowledge and the creativity it can bring forth. Let’s all keep our channels open and not allow our own uniqueness to be lost.

Maureen Simon

Maureen J. Simon Consulting

(415) 381-5115

www.maureensimon.com

http://globaldialoguecenter.blogs.com/women/ http://www.facebook.com/maureensimon