7 Things Every Woman Should Know and Believe

7 Things Every Woman Should Know... AND *Believe*

Lately this podcast has been my platform of choice to continue to spread my message to girls and young women that YOU ARE ENOUGH.  So in today's show, I'm going to share with you just 7 of the many things I think every woman, whether young or not-so-young, needs to hear, know, and BELIEVE.  Because it's one thing to hear something about yourself, another thing to know it. But you can't stop there. You have to BELIEVE it so it can manifest into action.  A person who KNOWS right from wrong, or good from bad, will continue to do the same old things, and keep their same negative habits UNLESS they BELIEVE something different. Something better.  So if you know these 7 things, GREAT. But we need to BELIEVE. And sometimes, we forget and just need a fresh reminder.

1. Your worth is not defined by other people. You are the one who decides your value. YOU.

There are people I interact with whom I may not like, but I still respect them because of their hustle or certain other admirable qualities. But it doesn't matter what I think of them-- it only matters what I think of me, because whatever I think about myself will influence what I do, how I feel about myself. Respect from others starts with self-respect. Love from others starts with self-love. Allowing others to treat you poorly shows that you lack self-respect and self-love. But no matter what, other people's opinions of you and actions toward you DO NOT define your worth or value.   

2. Just because everyone is doing it, doesn’t mean it’s OK for you to do too.

The idea of "everyone is doing it" is not true for anything except breathing. Take away that idea and generalization.  Each one of us is on her own journey, and while there are definitely things we can relate to others about, not everyone is on the same level or same journey.  This age of social media makes it even easier to compare ourselves to others and sometimes feel lesser than.  But the world doesn't need more followers. What it needs is people who will stand up for their beliefs and share their talents to serve others and make the world a better place. So never feel the need to “fit in” or think you have to measure up to someone else.

3. Tough times are only temporary. 

I am a witness to that saying that when it rains, it pours.  But every time it starts raining, it eventually stops.  That's life.  It doesn't matter where you live, how much money you make, who you know, how well you live your life, or whether you believe in God or not-- nothing will keep you from experiencing setbacks in life.  But after darkness there is always light. No matter how difficult the situation is, keep pushing forward in faith and remind yourself that tough times are only temporary.  Do not isolate yourself during those tough times because that's when you're most vulnerable.  Every time you get hurt, your healing will depend on how you take care of yourself, and who you choose to lean on.  Choose wisely.  There will be days when you’ll want to give up, Don’t!  Always be thankful. Gratitude will bring you through those tough times.

4. Attitude is everything.

The way that two people can look at the same situation and see something differently is a function of perspective. And your perspective is influenced by your attitude. Your attitude determines the outcome of every situation in our life. I've heard this saying that, “A bad attitude is like a flat tire. If you don’t change it, you’ll never go anywhere.” You can let something break you or you can let it make you stronger.

5. The little things are what matters the most. 

Sometimes we go after material things… and that’s fine up to a point, but don’t forget the things which money can’t buy. What would happen if you lost your health, your family, your friends? Happiness isn’t about getting what you want all the time. It’s about loving what you have and realizing how blessed you are to have the things you have. Take the time to truly discern what matters and what doesn't. When you look back at this physical thing you want now, or the situation you're in now, will it still be a big deal to you in 10 years?

6. A closed door is always an opportunity.

It may be a time to wait for something better, or an opportunity to change directions so you can move forward. And that’s a good thing because we often won’t move unless circumstances force us to. Sometimes you have to move forward believing that your life will improve, and a closed door will help you see that.  You may think that you wasted our time in a situation, but if you move forward, no experience is wasted. You can take your lessons learned and help someone else avoid your mistakes.

7. You can't be successful all by yourself. 

We all have talents, strengths and weaknesses. Where you are weak, others' strengths can complement your weaknesses and vice versa.  Every fabulous and successful person you've ever seen has a great team. That person may be the main talent, but there are plenty of folks behind the scenes making the magic happen. So be humble, and as I said in #4, treat people right. You never know who's watching.

Your thoughts?

I hope this show is was that reminder you can use to jump start positive changes in your life.  Which one struck a chord with you? Let me know-- email me kickinit [at] dareeallen [dot] com