Make Your Voice Count Every Day With Three Simple Tweaks
Donald Trump’s Executive Order for the Muslim ban this past week troubles me deeply. Yet I am profoundly motivated to rise up into my own power and use my voice.
Here I go.
The only thing that has ever changed anything, is a single person making a decision to do something different. The action creates momentum; this leads to further action.
Equality starts with me. It starts with you. Banning together is important and powerful, but I wanted to explore a few ways to make a difference on a daily level that wasn’t hard, expensive or complicated.
I work with mostly female professionals & entrepreneurs. While my message is on point for personal and professional development, the fundamental practices can be applied to anyone who needs to rise up into their personal power to attain a higher level of freedom, respect and prosperity.
Here are three simple, practical and FREE tweaks you can take to create equality in our society:
- Choose better music. I love pop music and I have since I was a little girl. I cringe when I listen to the lyrics on the radio stations, embarrassed by what we have decided Top 40 is in our culture. That this music is the best of the best to raise the next generation on. Music is beautiful and powerful. With all the apps, stations and platforms available today, find better music that supports your values as a member of the human race. Start requesting different music and if that doesn’t work, stop listening to those stations.
I am in love with Alicia Keys new song, Holy War, buy it here. I really can’t respond to this Muslim ban with anything more eloquent so here are some of the lyrics:
If war was holy and sex is obscene
We’ve got it twisted in this lucid dream
Baptized in boundaries, schooled in sin
Divided by difference, sexuality and skin
So we can hate each other and fear each other
We can build these walls between each other
Baby, blow by blow and brick by brick
Keep yourself looked in, yourself locked in
Yeah we can hate each other and fear each other
We can build these walls between each other
Baby, blow by blow and brick by brick
Keep yourself locked in, yourself locked
Maybe we should love somebody
Maybe we should care a little more
So maybe we should love somebody
Instead of polishing the bombs of holy war
What is sex was holy and war was obscene
And it wasn’t twisted, what a wonderful dream
Living for love, unafraid of the end
Forgiveness is the only real revenge
2. Practice bragging daily. Yep, I said it. I have grown up to witness a distinct difference in how men and women take a compliment. I recently finished Shonda Rhimes incredible book, Year of Yes. In it, she eloquently expands on this ubiquitous sentiment I have been addressing in my coaching practice for years.
She shares how during an evening to celebrate the accomplishments of women in TV, without exception, each woman does one of these three things when being acknowledged:
- Shake her head and act unworthy of the recognition
- Ducked her head in embarrassment
- Laughed and looked mortified, completely uncomfortable
Would a group of men at the top of their field behave this way when being honoured for their talents, work and accomplishments? (Clearly this is a rhetorical question.)
Ladies, this is a special shout out to make your life great by making today matter. Making this moment matter, this choice, this next sentence you speak, this next hug you give, this next act of compassion you display towards yourself instead of judgement.
3. Vote with your wallet. Put your money where your ethics and values are. Start paying attention to all those messages that add up to perpetuating old stereotypes and start promoting your values.
It is time to do what is right over choosing what feels easy.
The choices we make today are the seeds that will bloom in the seasons ahead. Our actions are like fertilizer, allowing certain seeds to thrive while others may die and fade away.
Be more mindful.
Respond, not react.
Remember, everyone has a story to tell that will take your breath away.
We don’t react the things we do from the heart, we only regret the things we do not do.
Until next time…be fabulously, boldly and uniquely YOU.
work, live and play in FULL bloom
your Coach, Lisa van Reeuwyk
