For most of our time on Earth, women have been under appreciated and under estimated. There have been times throughout history where women have been given more power just to have it taken away. It wasn’t until 1919 when the United States Senate approved the 19th amendment which gives women the right to vote. For about 150 years after our Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution, women did not have many rights, if they even had any at all depending on where they lived. While we have many more rights today, there are situations where we have to work harder to be recognized and appreciated. This, to me, is ridiculous considering we make up 51% of the population, grow humans inside of us, and manage a career and a household.
Now, just to be clear, I’m not a full on feminist but I do strongly believe men and women should be treated equally. While I am an independent woman and can navigate life on my own, having a partner that I trust and can rely on makes life easier and more fun. However, I realize this isn’t for everyone. Not all women (or men) want a life partner and I get that. When men and women learn how to use their unique super powers for good and not evil, life will be not only easier and efficient but so much more enjoyable.
One area where women are not seen and heard as much as we deserve is health and wellness. Way too often women are treated as small men when it comes to how to eat, exercise, and rest because our bodies are not studied nearly as much as men’s. The reality is we aren’t just small men. Our “plumbing” is a bit more complicated than men’s and, on top of that, our hormonal cycles are completely different. All of this can affect the way our bodies respond to food, exercise, and rest. These are the Wellness Abundance Coaching Pillars that build a strong foundation for sustainable weight loss, fertility, mobility, consistent energy levels, and navigating hormonal changes at any age. This is why women need to be seen and heard more and on a deeper level in all areas of health and wellness.
With that being said, there are other life factors that can affect your health and wellness indirectly. I’ll dive into a few of these today.
In the meantime, let’s chat about how you can use your super power as a woman to become the healthiest version yourself today. After all, as a woman you’re much more capable than you give yourself credit for. It’s time to grab your toolbox, unpack your tools, and figure out how you can utilize them to use your super powers for good.
Ready? Let’s go!
Advocate for Your Own Health and Wellness
Since the scientific community has left us behind (I’m not blaming them, just stating a fact) it’s time to do your own research. A great starting point is to get in tune with your own body. In the beginning, this can be a bit of a tedious process but well worth the effort.
When I started paying more attention to how I was feeling throughout my cycle, I was able to satisfy my sugar cravings by eating more potatoes or protein to put the kabash on them. I also learned that when I start my cycle (FYI- your cycle starts the first day of your period) I’m going to be tired, crampy, and maybe cranky. I know not to schedule intense workouts, get far more rest, and do my best to get my attitude in check so I don’t bite my husband’s head off. No one wants to be around a cranky wife.
Knowing your body well is super helpful if your spidey senses are telling you something’s off. If you feel like something might not be right, reach out to your healthcare provider right away. If you know what’s normal with your body and something isn’t right, you’ll have the confidence to walk into your healthcare provider’s office and let them know exactly what’s happening so they can better help you.
Take Action to Get What You Want and Deserve
One thing I’ve struggled with throughout my life is asking for what I want with confidence. Much of this stems from a story I tell myself that I know isn’t true: that I don’t deserve the success I dream of every day. Maybe for you it’s the fear of rejection. Or something completely different.
Overcoming mindset hurdles takes time and whole lot of patience. Finding the courage within yourself to ask for what you want can make a huge impact on your physical health. When we’re feeling confident in one area of our life we can translate it to another area in our life where we may not feel as confident. Plus, when we’re experiencing fear and anxiety our stress levels tend to go up which increases food cravings, inhibits your ability to get great sleep, and can cause all sorts of health issues.
So, how do you build the confidence to ask for what you want? Make a list of areas in your life where you feel you’re under appreciated and want to ask for more. Start with something small such as customizing an order at a restaurant. Before you ask for what you want, remind yourself that you deserve it and assume that you’re going to get it. Ordering food at a restaurant is an easy one because most restaurants will allow you to customize your order to some degree. Be prepared to share why you want to customize your order. For example, I always ask for no cheese because my body does not respond well when I eat cheese. I’m always prepared for any pushback by being open to sharing that I have a food sensitivity.
Once you start getting what you want with the small things, your confidence will continue to grow so you can start asking for the bigger things. For example, if you want to ask your boss for a pay raise or increase your rates, use the same tactic as you did at the restaurant. I’ve done this before with my personal training rates and at first it was super uncomfortable. What I found was that most people were totally okay with a rate increase. In fact, I’ve even had clients tell me they’re happy to pay more for my services because they get so much value from them. This is always a huge confidence booster for me because it reminds me that what I do is very much appreciated by others.
Your boss may see the value you bring to your team and the company and be happy to increase your salary. When you carry yourself with confidence and show the immense value you provide, a great leader will recognize it and acknowledge it. If they say no, then maybe it’s time for you reevaluate your situation and go somewhere you’re truly appreciated.
Tap Into Your Strengths
Treat your strengths as though they’re your greatest asset because they are. We tend to get so wrapped up in our weaknesses that we rarely recognize our strengths. It’s super easy to focus on your weaknesses when you’re constantly comparing yourself to others. This takes you down a road that does not get you to the life you want and deserve.
One thing that has helped me tap into my strengths over the years is to make a list of everything I’m good at. How do I know if I’m good at something? Most of the time these are things that I really enjoy doing. With that being said, you can be good at something and not enjoy it. For example, there are jobs I’ve had in the past that I was really good at, but after awhile it just wasn’t fun for me anymore. I didn’t look forward to going to work.
Now I focus on my strengths of being an empathetic person, actually listening when I’m talking with someone, creating workouts that are effective and my clients enjoy, and maintaining healthy lifestyle habits that work for me.
There can be weaknesses you have that you want to move over to the strengths column. This is a great example of a weakness that should be acknowledged so you can get better at it. If one of your weaknesses is staying consistent with a workout routine, brainstorm ideas on how you can be better at it. Begin by viewing it as one of your strengths. This will help you flip the script as you’re making the changes needed to improve your skillset with sustaining a workout routine that works for you.
The bottom line is that we as women deserve to been seen, heard, and appreciated for the immense value we bring to the world. It may not feel like it all the time but everything you do in your daily life is making an impact, even if it’s a small one. The little daily actions add up and you never know who you’re going to inspire just by tapping into your super power as a woman. Change happens when we band together to overcome obstacles and show the world what we’re made of. You’re tougher, stronger, and more impactful than you think you are so it’s time to start acting like it.
Action Step: How can you tap into your super power as a woman today? Get out there and do it!