A first-nations chief once told me that women hold the power, and always have. They just haven't realized it
Women raise the children. WE teach our children ethics and moral principles that will govern their lives. Mothers are the moral compass of society. Every son is the product of his mother. We teach our sons and daughters how to love, how to treat others, how to have relationships, how to become productive adults
Think about that. ... How much power women hold to shape the very fabric of society through the power of our own values, our wisdom, our own self worth
Our power does NOT come though COMPETING with men for equality and power (yang energy)
It comes from our feminine INFLUENCE on men, on the marketplace, and on society as a whole (yin energy)
Abusive, thoughtless, bigoted people aren't BORN that way. They grow up in an environment that teaches them to become that way. And it is their childhood, and in particular their mothers, that play the pivotal role in that development
For example, abused women are disempowered women, and they inadvertently teach disempowerment to their children. When you neglect, abuse, or disrespect yourself, you show your partners and others how you want them to treat you
Your self abuse and acquiescing to abuse in turn demonstrates a clear example to your sons for how to treat women, and shows your daughters how to treat themselves and how to be treated by men
World War 2 radically changed society. With men away at war, women took over the workplace to keep industry going. But, after the war, women did not return to their place in the home. They continued to seek success and fulfillment outside the home. And that was the start of the breakdown of traditional family roles.
Whether you are rich or poor, powerful or obscure, if you are a woman and a mother, you are currently dictating what your children and what society ultimately will become
I was born into a dysfunctional home with a mother who worked and probably should never have had children. But, I was lucky enough to have been 'informally adopted' by my best friend's family, where I often spent weekends, seeing what a loving, nurturing family looks like. Later in life I was also 'adopted' by my boyfriend's family, and that changed my life
Mom and Pop both have stellar moral values, gentle love and respect for each other, and they raised their children to reflect those healthy values and care for others. Their grandchildren, in turn are bright, considerate, happy young adults, raised with the same code of ethics and values
These people are role models for what families should be, and what society could become. I am blessed to have found them and was wise enough to allow them to love and support me
At the same time, I learned many positive and important lessons from my birth mother. She was a force to reckoned with, a consummate business woman, fearless in fighting for survival and respect
When I was about 7 years old I watched my mother confront the leader of the Hells' Angels motorcycle gang. At least 50 gang members surrounded her at our place of business. She stood up to them fearlessly and defiantly, defending her property and children without anyone around to protect her
I watched that gang leader walk out into the middle of the street and stop traffic. He got down on his knees and bowed to her in deference. From then on, she was treated with polite respect and deference by the gang members. They protected our property from rival gangs, and they left our business alone. And I learned a brave and important lesson from my mother
Since then, no one has ever stopped me from doing what I want to do. I never see obstacles as barriers. They are merely challenges. I simply keep my eyes on my goal and go straight over whatever challenge is in my way to get to that goal. I learned that courage and tenacity from my mother
Women also hold power in another way ... When a man loves a woman who understands her value and respects herself, he will do everything he can to make her happy and to be worthy of her. And that gives her great influence and power over his actions and choices
Anyone who has ever visited the gilded-age mansions of Newport Rhode Island can clearly see the undeniable influence and power of women over wealth and society at a time when women were said to have no power at all
Women CAN change the world simply by realizing the power we have to change how our children and our partners think, behave, and act. It begins with self care
Each one of us who acts to bring ourselves in balance and wholeness, shows our children and our partners how to do the same. That's why, very often the husband and children of our clients will choose to come to us for help. The family sees the changes in their mother, and they want to have this amazing gift of happiness, too!
When we choose forgiveness, we dissolve the power of others over our happiness, and we teach our children the value of that freedom. When we practice self respect and respect for others, we teach our children to respect themselves and others. And that ends bullying
When we choose happiness, every choice, action and decision is naturally for our highest good. It then teaches our children to choose happiness. And that benefits EVERYONE
When we are happy, those around us begin to want to become happy too ... And so we influence others in positive ways. We like to call that 'the Enlightened Feelings Effect.'
It all starts with you ... a woman ...
Are you influencing your husband or partner in positive ways?
What are you teaching your children? What kind of a role model are you? Are you influencing them in positive ways with strong moral principles, thoughtful action, and guidance? Or are you more focused on you?--your career, survival, or success in the outer world.
In what ways are you allowing others to influence your children? What television shows, video games and movies are you letting them watch that are teaching them negative ways to behave, and sending negative messages about what to think or believe?
It all starts with you...the person who is and always will be greatest influence in the lives of those you love