This time last week, my daughter climbed into bed with me so we could do one final review of my education over the last 8 months because tonight, it was all culminating in this. The wait was over and we were going to see Taylor Swift in concert.
Over the last 8 months, my Taylor Swift education was on full speed. Every day saw texts or tik toks on what we should wear (matching and with sparkles, of course!), how the Era’s tour was progressing (where, who, etc – IYKYK), my required playlist and then watching and rewatching the documentaries. By the time we rolled into Seattle for the concert, I was firmly educated on this woman, knew all the songs, maybe even better than my daughter and armed with my fair share of glitter.
The build-up was filled with so much fun, excitement and joy and having the opportunity to connect and share in something with my girl was the ultimate.
Simultaneously, I had/have been noodling on a concept that frankly, had me a little reticent to talk about. Day in and day out in my coaching practice, I get to connect with insanely brilliant and inspiring women; women who have this hunger for more.
This “more” they long for comes in very different shapes and sizes but it lives within and by the time they see me, the friction of trying to hide it away has become deeply uncomfortable, to say the least. It’s the friction between being who they truly are and doing as they “should”.
My noodling has been about why, as women, we tend to shy away from our “more”; cover it with duty or suppress it with scoldings of selfishness. Why can’t we simply free ourselves from these shackles?
And this concept that I’ve been dancing around and sugar-coating is Power. For women, my clients and myself, this word tends to conjure a negative response. We associate it with control, ego, aggression, masculinity gone awry and very unfeminine. Good girls do not seek power.
Yet that definition of power is not only limited, it’s false.
Power in its true essence isn’t interested in exerting control over others. It’s not about domination nor is it about who has the best toys on the playground.
True and genuine power comes from knowing and living from who we truly are, unapologetically. It’s a full comprehension of our value and worth without question or qualification. And it’s actually quite feminine because it’s rooted in love.
On this day last week, my two worlds collided. All I had been contemplating was on full display in front of me, my daughter and 73,000 others. Here stood (and sang and danced) a woman who lives so fully in her power that her electricity was palpable.
✨Yes, her music, her performance, and her talent are undeniably incredible.
✨Her vision and courage to defend her work, her art and herself are groundbreaking.
✨She is the highest paid female entertainer in the world
✨And in addition to ALL of that, she champions others – her opening acts, singers, dancers, fans and more.
This is the power, the “more” of which I speak. A woman who so fully embraces herself, that she not only lifts herself but all those around her too.
And wow! The ripple effect of connection, positivity, respect and love (SO.MUCH.LOVE) reaches far and wide and I am forever grateful that my daughter got to see this in its fiercest and most beautiful form.
If Taylor Swift did not answer her calling to “More” the world truly would not be the same.
As women, we spend so much time and energy looking outside of ourselves; judging, competing, worrying about others feelings, their thoughts and emotions, afraid to disappoint, afraid to fail and even more, afraid to succeed.
What if instead, we simply and proudly embraced the women we really are? What if we gave voice to our “More”? What if we dared let ourselves live from there, knowing that in doing so, we elevate everyone else around us too? That is true power.
I’d love to hear your thoughts . . .
What is your honest response to the word, “Power”?
What is your “More”?
What keeps you from it?
As Ms Swifts sings, “We all know now, we all got crowns”. And you’re not going it alone ♥️
Cheers to donning our crowns!