From Dreams to Legacy: Empowering Women's Journeys
Belinda MJ Brown, MCC
?500+ Women Coached & 50+ Groups Facilitated | Your Reflexivity Partner in Transformation: Crafting Your Legacy, One Step at a Time For A Regret-Free Life? I Master Certified Executive Coach I Supervisor I Author ?
Women’s Ambitions and Aspirations: A Path to Empowerment
Among conversations about women and their careers, I often hear, “I don’t think she has any ambition,” “It might not be the right time, she has a family,” or “This role might not be suited to her current situation.” It is disappointing to witness that outdated perspectives still affect us in 2024. Nevertheless, it is important to challenge the common belief that women’s ambitions and aspirations are irrelevant simply because they are not always visible or expressed.
Ambitions vs. Aspirations: Understanding the Difference
Ambitions and aspirations, while closely related, are distinct concepts that play unique roles in shaping a woman’s career trajectory. Ambitions are often short-term goals driven by external achievements, such as promotions, salary increases, or specific job titles. They are concrete, measurable, and usually aligned with immediate career objectives.
Aspirations, on the other hand, are long-term visions of who a woman wants to become in her career and life. They are more abstract, encompassing personal growth, fulfillment, and the desire to make a lasting impact. Aspirations are about the legacy a woman wants to leave and the broader purpose that drives her professional journey.
Having a long-term vision is critical for empowering women to reach new heights in their careers and lives. A clear aspiration provides direction and motivation, helping women navigate the challenges and setbacks they may encounter. It serves as a north star, guiding their decisions and actions toward a fulfilling and purpose-driven career.
The Reality of Women’s Ambitions
According to the 2023 Women in the Workplace report from McKinsey & Lean In, over 80% of women express a desire to get promoted and pursue higher positions. Despite this strong ambition, women often face significant barriers to achieving their goals. These barriers can include systemic biases, lack of support, and lower levels of confidence compared to their male counterparts.
The Confidence Gap
While women are as ambitious as men, their confidence in reaching their goals is often much lower. This confidence gap can prevent women from even considering higher positions or voicing their ambitions. However, organizations that invest in programs to help women articulate and pursue their aspirations create a win-win situation. These programs empower women to dream bigger and build extraordinary plans for themselves, extending beyond just roles or paychecks.
I am pleased to see many large organizations inviting women to reflect on and clearly define their ambitions and aspirations. By providing the right tools and support, these organizations help women build confidence and pursue their long-term visions. Programs that focus on leadership development, mentorship, and networking opportunities are particularly effective in helping women achieve their full potential.
Empowering Women Outside the Corporate Environment
For those women who do not have the opportunity to reflect on their ambitions and aspirations within their corporate environment, I offer the same choice and tools through this article. Reflect on your long-term vision, understand the difference between your immediate ambitions and broader aspirations, and take steps to make your dreams a reality.
By understanding and embracing the difference between ambitions and aspirations, women can empower themselves to achieve new heights in their careers and lives. A long-term vision is not just a dream—it's a powerful tool that can transform ambitions into reality and create a fulfilling, purpose-driven career and life? path. Remember that everything is integrated https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/work-life-balance-vs-integration-belinda-mj-brown-mcc-qqmle/
The process I designed for my clients is pretty simple.
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Acknowledging and Assessing the Current Environment
Acknowledging the current environment is a key factor in progress. Pausing to look at the environment, which might lack support, time, and energy, often brings awareness. With awareness comes the power to make choices. As Belinda MJ Brown said, “Awareness is the power to choose your experience of life.”
Challenging the Status Quo
Evaluating what’s working and what’s not is the next crucial step. This is especially important for women who have been busy pleasing others and neglecting their own needs. It's the perfect moment to explore values, aspirations, and think about their legacy. One powerful question to support this stage is, “How do you want to be remembered on the last day of your life?” Another question I often use is, “If we were to meet again 20 years from now, who would you have become, and what would you share about your journey to get there?”
These questions are often challenging for my clients because they’ve never thought about their life or career in this way. It can shake their world and help them realize they can dream bigger than they thought possible, which can bring up fears. This is a normal part of the change process. Fear of the unknown, fear of success, fear of failure, fear of acting differently, and most importantly, fear of becoming the authors of their lives and leaving the comfort of their spectator seats, where everyone but them decides who they become, what they deserve, and how they grow.
Empowering and Fueling the Fire Within
Every woman has a light within her, often dimmed daily. Many women I encounter have shrunk or are completely dimmed. As we work towards their aspirations, we access this light and ignite a fire that consumes fears and limiting beliefs. This empowers women to transcend themselves and access their inner resources, preparing them to take action.
This step includes visualization and detailed imagery of what the future looks like, priming the brain to recognize this as a now possible and realistic outcome. My clients become familiar with who they want to become and how they want to think, feel, and act. They elevate their spirit, feel energized, and prioritize effectively. Interestingly, as a result of this process, they find they have more time and feel empowered. The once unknown becomes known, and they strive.
Igniting External Changes
Allowing who we are to lead our lives gives us the courage to take action and alter our external environment. Gandhi once said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” I would modify this slightly to say, “Be the change you want to see in YOUR world.”
Transforming Ourselves to Live and Leave a Legacy
My clients experiment with new behaviors and observe themselves and others more. They become masters of their emotions, understanding that these are merely signals providing information for more conscious decisions. Their confidence levels increase dramatically, empowering them to shine, ask for what they want, and set clear yet loving boundaries. They move from lower levels of the Energy Leadership Index to higher levels, such as levels 4, 5, or 6, reaching new heights of personal and professional fulfillment.
Practical Steps to Define and Pursue Your Aspirations
This transformative journey begins with acknowledging the current environment and challenging the status quo. It involves empowering oneself, igniting internal fire, and making external changes to lead a fulfilled and impactful life. By transforming yourself, you not only live your legacy but also leave a lasting one for future generations. Embrace this journey and let your light shine brightly, for you are the author of your story and the architect of your legacy. By understanding and embracing these steps, you can empower yourself to achieve new heights in your career and life, ensuring that your ambitions and aspirations are not just dreams but realities.