A birthday reflection on women and power

It was my birthday this week. I love birthdays and I reflected on what I wanted to share with you as I start this new revolution around the sun and one clear topic came to mind:

POWER.

How do you feel about power? How do you feel about your OWN power?

I've personally had a complicated relationship with power throughout the years.

More specifically, thinking of myself as powerful.

I looked around at so many of the people in our world who fit the traditional picture of power -- and I knew I didn't want to be like that.

I also got some feedback during my career that made me aware of the power of my voice. Some people appreciated it. Some people asked me to tone it down.

So I shied away from my own power. I over-filtered my voice. I second-guessed myself when I DID show up powerfully.

I wondered if I'd been too much, too direct, too strong, just too EVERYTHING.

I wasn't silent by any means. I wasn't hiding in a corner.

But I wasn't embracing my full, grounded, authentic power either.

I WANTED to be more powerful, though! I wanted to FEEL powerful. I wanted to create the kind of impact that can only come with showing up from a place of internal, grounded power.

And so, a few years ago, a coach suggested that I look for examples of the kind of power I admire and want to see more of in the world - and to use that as motivation to embrace my own power.

?? I thought of Michelle Obama, who is human and direct and strong and inspiring all at the same time.

?? I thought of the musician Brandi Carlile, who gets on stage and absolutely EXUDES power from every orifice of her being.

?? I thought of Brené Brown, who creates the space to talk about real emotions and experiences and isn't afraid to address the topics we so often shove under the rug.

?? I thought of Maya Angelou, who spoke quietly and calmly and from a place of such joy and wisdom that it completely stopped me in my tracks every time I heard her talk.

That is my kind of power - and I'm working on embracing it.

It's definitely a journey. I know I can step into my power more fully. I know I can speak more directly about what's important and do so from a place of conviction mixed with listening and learning.

I'm even a little nervous sharing this article with such a direct message about power!

I'm working on it for myself....and I'm thinking about it for all of us.

Because here's what I know, more clearly now than ever:

?? We need more women embracing their power.

Not some self-aggrandizing, ego-driven power, but your true, authentic, GROUNDED power.

The kind of power that comes from deep within and allows you to speak up when you disagree, to share an unpopular opinion, to make the decision you know is right for you even if other people don't get it, to push when you need to push.

The kind of power that allows you to walk through the world knowing you belong in every room you set foot in.

What is that version of power for YOU?

What is YOUR authentic, real, true, grounded power?

How can you unleash it - maybe just a little or maybe completely full throttle?

Doesn't that sound AMAZING? A revolution of women unleashing their full throttle, grounded power?

What might be possible?!?I don't know, but I want to find out ??

Starting today.