Women Supporting Women

I had an experience the other day that really made me think. It was a prime example of how we as women tear each other down. How instead of encouraging and embracing each other in their power, we work to prevent that in one another. Now, I’d imagine that most of us don’t do it on purpose, but it is something we need to begin to be aware of. I’ll tell you the story...

There I was having a conversation with someone about raising children. The struggles, the successes, the challenges, and all the things that come with guiding a young human in this crazy world. We have had different experiences, as she has her own biological children and no nieces/nephews and at that time I had a bonus daughter, as well as many nieces and nephews. During our conversation, she said something to the effect of, “well you haven’t had children so you don’t really understand.” My knee-jerk reaction is to say, “yeah, you’re right” and give this person my power. But in truth, that is not true. Just because our experiences are different does not make one of us less qualified or more qualified to talk on the subject. By no means are either of us experts in parenting (who is?). Yet there she was telling me that I could not understand, empathize, or carry out a conversation with her. And I almost allowed it...

This type of behavior is so common among women. We tend to believe that our story is the most profound. We tend to believe that we are always the most right. We tend to belittle the people who think or act differently than we do.

When you take a step back and think about it, how ridiculous does this sound? “Well I have $1000 and you only have $999, so I can certainly manage my money better than you can.” How silly is that? Start to pay attention to how you speak to others AND how often you give your power away to someone else, because of their opinion and judgment. You are worth more than someone else’s opinion of you. You don’t have to accept anyone’s judgment as your gospel truth. And it is not up to you to offer your judgments to bring someone else down.

We are each on our own journey and it is not our place to judge where anyone else is on theirs. We can offer support and guidance. We can lift each other up. We can encourage each other. But please, stop cutting one another down because their experiences are different than your own. Or they make decisions that are not the choices you would have made. 

Women will change the world when they learn to embrace their power and support one another. Be a part of that change! I'd love to help lift you up, you can find a way to work with me here.