TGIF | Rise Up: A Call to Women to Embrace Wholeness
This article is part of our weekly TGIF newsletter series. To get these in your inbox weekly, sign up below:
Dear Community,
As we reflect on the essence of womanhood this International Women's Day, I feel compelled to issue a call to action for all the incredible women and womxn in our community. While I'll use the term "women" for the sake of this newsletter, please know it embraces our non-binary and trans folx as well.
Every day, I witness the pervasive disconnection that women experience from their bodies. From a young age, we are conditioned to reject our natural forms, relentlessly pursuing an ideal shape and appearance. I recall being just 8 years old, instructed to suck in my stomach at a pool during spring break. The vulnerability of that moment still brings tears to my eyes, contemplating the innocence and childhood of my almost 7-year-old. Around 7 or 8 years old, our brains start connecting the dots, forming beliefs about ourselves and the world. We internalize messages as limiting beliefs, creating "shame stories," adapting to the fundamental human needs of love, belonging, safety, and worthiness.
At that pivotal moment, I felt different, not enough, and a pressing need to change. By 12, I had a personal trainer; at 15, I joined Weight Watchers. At 37, I still find myself entangled in the clutches of diet culture. It's exhausting, and I know many of you share this exhaustion.
Last week marked National Eating Disorder Awareness Week, highlighting the tension between diet culture and women's empowerment. We're bombarded with messages to "combat aging," "stay fit for our kids," "lose that belly fat," and have a "hot girl summer." It's perplexing, to say the least.
All this noise only serves to silence our intuition, inner wisdom, and the divine feminine within. How can we trust ourselves when we're constantly consumed by digital noise dictating how we should look, act, parent, love, move, and eat?
From my journey and working with clients, I've learned that this lack of trust is a core obstacle to showing up as whole, authentic, powerful, and empowered. Doubt leads to less speaking up, more conformity, and losing our true identity in the cacophony of societal expectations.
This lack of trust also results in a disconnection from our bodies. The brain and body aren't just connected; they are one harmonious entity. Yet, we consistently seek answers outside ourselves. Within each of us lies the power to transform, to mend, to become whole.
I find deep embodiment in quiet, stillness, and nature. By listening closely to the heartbeat of Mother Earth, we can hear the resounding call for women to awaken. Happy, empowered women are those deeply connected to their feelings, advocating for themselves and the well-being of others.
Authenticity means allowing yourself to cry, to rage, to say no, and to prioritize yourself over others. Reclaiming your true self means rejecting others' expectations and focusing on what you want for yourself.
Consider this: What are your values? Do your actions align with YOUR values or societal norms? Mine include health, education, generosity, and autonomy, and I confidently ensure my behaviors align. Misalignment can be toxic, especially when living disconnected from our embodied truth.
Taking action toward your authenticity may feel selfish, but it has an altruistic outcome. Operating from a place of wholeness allows a woman to show up not only for herself but also for those around her. A burned-out woman doesn't change the world. Exhaustion is not empowerment. On the other hand, a woman who is connected, whole, authentic, and embodied is a powerful force. She emanates a positive energy, creating a ripple effect of kindness, compassion, and personal growth.
Prioritizing mental well-being equips women to navigate life's challenges, build meaningful connections, and contribute positively to their communities. A woman operating from a place of wholeness can uplift others, inspiring them to embrace authenticity and embark on journeys of self-discovery.
Women can change the world.
Click here to learn more about therapy for disordered eating.
With warmth and empowerment,
And this week’s TGIFs…
TOOL - The Rushing Women’s Syndrome was a game-changer early in my career. I love a lot of what Dr Libby shares and I think you will too.
GRATITUDE - My therapist told me about the book Reclaiming Body Trust and it’s like having a therapist in my Kindle, gently guiding me back to myself each time I pick it up.
INNOVATION - In reclaiming our truth from oppression, Dr. Tanmeet Sethi is a reckoning voice in her book, Joy is My Justice.
FEELS - Try not to have big feels watching Luvvie Ajayi Jones in her Ted Talk, a historic moment and a video that has been viewed almost 10 million times.