I recently delivered a talk + mini workshop for an organization as part of their celebration of International Women’s Month and I thought of sharing some insights here as well.
I’ll be honest, the first time I heard of this year’s International Women’s Day theme, I thought, “What else is there to give? We’ve already given and even sacrificed so much as women.” To satisfy my curiosity and stay away from judgment, I decided to read more about the theme. Then I understood better.
Aside from posting, celebrating, and having events during International Women’s Month, the challenge for us is to remember that what matters is not just what we do once a year, every March, but what we do every single day.
So where do we start?
We start with ourselves.
Who we are is what we give to the world.
What we allow is what will continue.
How we see ourselves tells the world how to treat us.
Start by giving yourself permission.
Give yourself permission to dream BIG.
I have met and coached many women whose dreams are confined by limitations set by society, their families or their workplace. They set aside their desire for a successful career, because they are told women are made for the home. They forget to take care of themselves because they’re told that they should care for others first.
Studieshave shown that in the Philippines, domestic and care-giving work are still commonly expected to be a woman’s job.
Stereotypes and expectations aside, what is your biggest dream?
💭 Here are some points for reflection:
- When I make my decisions, whose opinions and voices do I consider?
- Without limitations, what do I really want in my life? Career? Family? Relationships?
- In what ways do I want to make an impact in this world during my lifetime?
Give yourself permission to be your best version.
It’s common for mothers or daughters (who are caregivers to their parents or their siblings) to put self-care at the bottom of their priority list. This is where we got it wrong. Self-care is more foundational than having a weekly spa appointment, going out with friends for a drink on Saturdays or spending hours shopping or watching Netflix.
Self-care is about looking after yourself, attending to your own needs, so that you are whole and able to take care of the things and the people that matter most to you.
Quick share: In 2024 I started my fitness and wellness journey, that led me not only to lose weight, but to break old limiting beliefs I had about myself, and allowed me to shine brighter in my own way.
💭 Here are some points for reflection
- What is the “next level” version of me that I want to unlock?
- What is hindering me from leveling up?
- What can I do to start becoming my next best version?
Give yourself permission to take credit.
Sadly, one of the unproductive and unhelpful “powers” many women possess is the power of minimizing. What do I mean by this? We minimize ourselves thinking that it’s a way of showing humility.
When someone compliments you, you try to say something self-destructive or turn the spotlight away from you. We say things like, “Oh I just got that top on sale.” or “Oh I got lucky today.”
Ladies, let’s be comfortable and confident to accept these compliments. Say thank you without feeling the need to over-explain or to say something nice in return.
💭 Here are some points for reflection:
- In what circumstances do I tend to minimize instead of taking credit and being proud?
- What can I say or do differently next time when I receive compliments?
- What can I say or do next time when I feel like I am being minimized by others?
What we give to support gender equality and women empowerment doesn’t have to be grand. We can start in small ways. We can start with ourselves. In fact, we shouldstart with ourselves.
No Special tools needed. You can start today, and do it consistently to make a difference. Coach Kurly de Guzman is a Career and Leadership Coach and one of a LinkedIn’s Top Voice based in the Philippines. She continuously seeks ways to help coaches, leaders and teams thrive through her newsletter, leadership and career development workshops as well as group and 1:1 coaching session for clients.
