The Powerful Capacity of Women

Recently I met with three different girlfriends over the course of the week - a Sunday brunch with a coaching friend, a Tuesday dinner with a Maui girlfriend and Thursday dinner and cocktails with another lovely female friend.

During these intimate conversations, all three women shared their vulnerability with an honest, open heart. There were tears and there was laughter. Because, let’s face it, the challenges we women face on a daily, weekly, monthly basis are real. 

There is struggle. There is sadness. There is hope. There is joy. There is frustration, anger, hurt and everything in between on this roller coaster called life. Amidst the challenges and stories though, I noticed again and again the resilient spirit that each of these women possesses. Each was able to dig deep into her being and find capacity within herself to step up to give, to serve and to accommodate those around her.

​These conversations were a timely reminder that there are powerful women that we walk beside in our lives. Sometimes it takes setting aside time for deep conversation and sharing to let that power be seen, acknowledged and upheld. These three women are a testament to that power at work in the lives of those close to me.

‎"I'm selfish, impatient and a little insecure.
I make mistakes, I am out of control
and at times hard to handle.
But if you can't handle me at my worst,
then you sure as hell
​don't deserve me at my best."

~Marilyn Monroe

​While it is very true that the feminine spirit has a powerful capacity - it is also important to recognize that this capacity is not bottomless. From personal experience, I know the feeling of hitting the bottom and being so frazzled, tired, drained and emotionally spent that I can barely even function. These three women shared this common sentiment as well as they shared openly about the many moving parts in their lives and the fact that each of them felt drained.

Sometimes we forget that we need to make it a priority to fill our own well. We get so caught up in giving to those around us that we forget to take time for ourselves to re-align with our purpose and to hold space for ourselves in the same way we hold space for others in our lives. We must remember to make ourselves a priority in the midst of helping and serving those around us and closest to us.

So what is the lesson here?

We women are powerful. We have a deep well of capacity. We are resilient. 

We must remember to care for ourselves and fill our wells so that we can show up and be the amazing mothers, daughters, friends, wives, sisters, aunts and grandmothers that we are.

We must hold space for ourselves in the same way we hold space for others.

I am grateful for the girlfriends and female role models in my life as they’ve shared the depth of their own spirits with me and modeled amazing resilience to life’s challenges. They’ve also taught me to practice self-care and to put my energy into being the best woman I can be and to invest in myself.

May we all find moments to listen to our own inner needs and fill our spirits in the ways that we need to be nurtured.

My challenge for all of us this week: 

Schedule time to sit down one-on-one with a good friend and really share what is going on in one another's lives. Show up powerfully in friendship. Listen to one another in a neutral way and share without judgment, solutions, or ideas. Bear witness to the vulnerability, power and capacity that is present around you.

​I’d love to hear what you notice during your conversations. Feel free to share in the comments below!