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Inspiring, Empowering & Transforming on International Women’s Day 2019

I love International Women’s Day (IWD). Ever since its origins in 1911, it has been a day that belongs to all women and girls. We stand together to celebrate our achievements, inspire others, and empower ourselves to follow our own path in life.

So I was extremely honoured to be invited as one of five female speakers at Beauchamps High School, Wickford, for their very first IWD conference.

Our brief was to “celebrate women, their diversity and their achievements”, with the aim of inspiring the pupils to think carefully about their lives and what they most wanted, then go out into the world and grab it!

We spoke to an audience of around ninety pupils, who were mostly girls. While I very much enjoyed speaking to them, I also felt encouraged by the other ladies I listened to during the conference.

We all heard so many amazing stories of transformation and empowerment. Listening to them made me realise that the many different experiences I’ve lived through, no matter how challenging, have helped me become the person I am today.

As a teacher of wellbeing, I challenge you to make a list of your own transformative experiences. Think about all the times when you were happiest, when you learned something new, and when you felt the most challenged.

Here are some of the experiences that make up my own list:

  • I can scuba dive, and ride a motorbike
  • I’ve jumped out of a plane!
  • I travelled to China, so I could learn meditation
  • I’ve lived in a monastery
  • I’ve slept in an igloo I made myself
  • My Mum died, suddenly
  • I changed career in my forties, and got married for the first time in my fifties
  • I’ve had skin cancer
  • I’ve run six marathons
  • I’ve lost my job three times
  • I’ve been in an abusive relationship

We all experience happiness and pain – contrary to popular belief, pain can be a good thing. Truly being able to help other people means you have to experience life in all its forms yourself.

The key lessons I took from my inspiring IWD experience are that, above all else, you have to believe in yourself to make your dreams come true. The only thing that holds you back is you, so don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it. We all do.

Be creative, have fun, and think outside the box every once in a while! If you fail, you fail – just move on, and remember, it’s OK to change your mind. Always be willing to learn, and never be afraid of hard work.

My final challenge to you is: enjoy life, and take every inspiring opportunity that comes your way. You just never know where they might lead, or what wonderful things you could learn.

I promise you: dreams can come true.

Can I help you get started on the road to wellbeing? I offer a range of services, including meditation and massage, that are all about you. Contact me to discover more.

Louise
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