Women Archives - Signy Wilson: Get Inspired, Get Real

Resilient Women Kick-Ass

I just want to give a huge shout out to the resilient women in the world that have created the option for today’s women to lead the lives that we do. With International Women’s Day yesterday, there seems to be no better way of kicking off the theme of ‘Resilience’ this month.

These women that I’m talking about are the ones that were shut down, and in some cases shot down, yet always stood back up and kept fighting. The suffragettes, the Rosie the Riveters, the female soldiers, the female politicians, the female CEOs, the list goes on… Those women across history and across cultures that have shown their strength time and time again in the fight for something better; something better not just for themselves, but for you and me as well.

Here’s to resilient women!

Suffragettes, particularly in the UK, were often seen as the objects of ridicule, just more whiny women. (When haven’t we heard that before?!) Their hunger strikes and protests were simply interpreted as further evidence that women were too emotional and couldn’t think as logically as men. The very word suffragette was intended to be derogatory, but those women turned it right around saying that they were the “suffraGETtes”.

How were these women able to be so resilient? Amongst a million personality strengths there are two things that stand out:Read More >>>

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Is it time to STOP?

Obviously there are plenty of things that we could stand to do less of in a day. What I’m talking about today is stopping the busyness habit. You know what I mean, that compulsion to do more, do better and do it in a way that makes it look easy. In today’s world, we all have it (or so it would seem), and we all seem to just think it’s normal, just the way things are.

Here’s the thing … it’s not serving us. And it’s not like that is news. We all know it, deep down inside, that this is not working. But we keep doing it. Almost like our To Do list and keeping up to date on it, and being on top of our email is the new “keeping up with the Jones’ “. Comparing our inbox count and bemoaning how long our list is has become a point of bonding. And when that happens, our Hyper-Achieving saboteur has stolen the show, and made off with the real prize … our peace of mind.

And I get that we need to do what needs to be done. And if we don’t at least try to stay on top of the inbox that the ambush of emails can paralyse us … but we need to stop.

Maybe not forever, but at the very least … we need a break.

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Find Your Crew

I am a BIG believer in playing to your strengths: doing what you do well, sticking with your sweet spot. That alone makes the world better all around (better for us because we are having fun, better for others because if we’re happy and having fun, we’re better people to be around).

Along the same line, I believe we need to be surrounded by the right people. Our crew, our tribe, our soul family. Those people who get us. REALLY get us. Without trying, they find us funny, they see what is amazing about us, they get lit up around us, and we get energized being around them. I cannot overstate the power (and importance) of this. It is where fitting in (what we do with people that are not our crew) turns into belonging (what happens when we are with our tribe, the Ones Who Get Us). Things become effortless. And, not surprisingly, I am a big fan of effortless (goes along with Ease).

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Choose Fully Alive

Tonight (or Oct 21st, if you read this on a different day than I wrote it), I am speaking at Living Extraordinary. I am totally excited to be with a group of amazing speakers, sold out house and the magic that Kate and Conscious Divas creates.

AND.

I am nervous. Which is funny to me, because I love this stuff, and it’s not like I haven’t worked to groups this size, frequently. And it is only 7 minutes … hell, I could fill that just by introducing myself. And still nervous.

Here is what I think is going on. It represents something bigger for me. This night, this act, represents me stepping out into my bigger life. And so the fear is bigger than just speaking (which is fun for me). It is about being seen, it is about letting myself shine, it is about being fully me for all to see. It’s vulnerable and it’s scary shit no matter what. As humans we are wired to not do that, except that doing that is what makes us feel fully alive. It is what reminds us about who we really are, and what makes our hearts pound.

I, for one, have been craving that. As an expert in my chosen field it is so easy to go to sleep at the wheel. To be the sage on the stage, doing what I know. But that is not what I am up to in this life. Like many of you, I am here to stretch myself and grow and try new things. Even when they make me feel like I might barf.

So today, in celebration of breast cancer awareness month, and of being alive, I am choosing FULLY alive. I am choosing to do something that scares me, I am choosing to stretch, and I am choosing to cross the threshold into a new life and a new way of being.

Who wants to join me?

And what does that look like for you?

Please inspire us all by sharing that thing that stretches you, scares you and you know is your next powerful step!!

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What does it mean to LIVE?

So the final pillar of Signýficant Living (which you will recall is to consciously and fearlessly live a life of meaning, passion and purpose) is … well … LIVE.

Share who you are with the world! Proudly.

I’m talking about living your life out loud (not hiding your light under a bushel). Sharing who you are with the world (whatever part of the world feels right for you, that is). Proudly. And with umph. Bringing all of you, not just the part that seems acceptable. Living true to yourself, who you really are, in line with what is really important to you, so that this life has meaning, and is on purpose for you. So that each day is fulfilling, not just when you reach some lofty goal, but now, right … NOW.

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What are you CHOOSING?

Last week I promised some thinking on this, the next element of Signýficant Living, CHOOSE.

Choose seems pretty simple. It’s defined as: to select by preference, the best or most appropriate, from a number of possibilities.

In this definition what I dig the most is that it’s about preference. What you most prefer. Picking what works best for YOU. Because that’s what choosing should be all about.

What I’m talking about, in Signýficant Living (which you will recall is to consciously and fearlessly choose to live a life of meaning, passion and purpose) is both the way you choose and what you choose. I am talking about the decision to choose IN, to choose life, to choose to be wide-awake and as present as you can be, to choose to live every moment of your life FULLY.

Clearly, that is a radical act.
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Become a Part of the Story

This story doesn’t write itself. And just like cancer, I can’t do this all by myself. I have a vision of a world where we all feel less isolated, where we all know that we matter and our lives matter and we are significant. But I need your help.

And there are so many ways that you can do that.

From giving of your time, energy or resources
To running for someone
To being someone we want to run for

All are welcome … so go ahead and find the way that you want give that is meaningful for you. And if you don’t see something that you think needs doing, go ahead and tell me about it, so that we can add it to the list.

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A Different Kind of Run

I have been doing the CIBC Run for the Cure since the year I was in cancer treatment, which makes this my 14th year. Mostly now I do it to remember (and prove to myself) I can, and to stay grateful that I am alive.

To be honest, it has lost its heart.

And that makes me sad, because when I first did it, it had such meaning for me. I felt hope, and connection, a part of something bigger than me and that I was not alone in the fight.

Run for the Cure 2012

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STOP

H ow many of us need to hear this?

We all seem to be rushing around in our lives right now. It has become not just the new normal, but the new status symbol. “I’m just too busy to connect right now”. Rushing is evidence that we are important, or needed, or irreplaceable – or something.
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My Brave New World

It is a new day and new week (and almost a new month) – and new world. I have just come off of what I think will be my last insane work marathon – now stepping into a different way of doing my life. I was hoping and expecting it would be a feeling of relief, euphoria and spaciousness. Instead I am experiencing a touch of anxiety – like a “Now what?”.
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