7 Traits of Empowered Women

This has been an intense year for all of us. There has been enormous disruption to the status quo.  Yet, there are some women who seem to always make the best of a bad situation.  We wanted to know how they do it, so we asked hundreds of women one question:

“What is the best advice you ever received?”

The advice tips and life lessons we received were from women on the front lines of life.  They shared their ideas in hopes of helping others.

Empowered women have several things in common:

  1. They Lead by Example. They are kind, confident and helpful.  These women care about others and work to make the world a better place.  Empowered women are honest, hardworking, energetic, and committed.  People follow them after seeing how  they take positive action to overcome challenges.
  1. Empowered Women Help Others. You don’t have to be rich to be empowered.  Helping others can be volunteering at a clinic, sharing food with a neighbor who is going through a tough time or checking in with someone who is sick and lonely.   Helping others helps you more.  Empowered women often mentor others.
  1. They Look for Solutions. The Chinese have an expression:  Fall down seven times, get up eight.  Empowered women are flexible and willing to learn new things.  They don’t get drawn into gossip or negative, hurtful conversations.   Empowered women are doers focused on keeping their eye on the prize.  Their motto might be:  Move Forward – Positively. 
  1. They are Kind, Thoughtful Listeners. The world could use a little more of this right now.  Empowered women listen with their heads and their hearts.  Often someone simply needs their feelings validated.   When given, their advice is thoughtful and motivatingThey continue to keep the person on their radar to make certain they’re okay.
  1. Empowered Women are Respectful. Each person’s life journey is unique. Empowered women respect that someone’s viewpoint is molded by their life experiences. Everyone has baggage.  For some, their baggage is neatly bundled.  For others, the baggage maybe be an unsorted mess. Without being judgmental, empowered women respectfully help others unclutter their baggage. 
  1. Empowered Women Face Their Fears. FDR once said, “The only thing to fear is fear itself.”  They challenge themselves to overcome their fear.  In many cases the fear wasn’t as bad as originally thought.  Empowered women gain  confidence with each conquered fear.  Let’s be honest, life can be hard and sometimes it’s really, really  Empowered women meet challenges head on with a positive can-do attitude.  They know when to ask for help, and who can help them the most in a difficult situation. 
  1. They Do Their Best Every Day. Empowered women do their best in everything they do.  It’s their personal mantra.  Honesty, work ethic, caring, grateful, empathy, courage and respect are not just words. For empowered women, it is a way of life.

This is not a scorecard. For example, get five out of seven and you are an empowered woman.  Rather it is a compass, something as a gauge.  It is a reminder of things we know, but sometimes lose sight of in these turbulent times.   Stay safe.  Stay empowered.

Carole Hale-Bishop and her husband wrote the book “Empowered Women Helping Others” with over 250 ideas to help people positively deal with life’s challenges and opportunities. Stay safe.  Stay empowered. Work together for a better future.