"We can do a lot more than what we give ourselves credit for..." - Awilda Harrington
We had a great start to On Fridays We Lunch 2017! "Believe in yourself... then act on it." "Don't wait for anyone to validate you." These statements from Awilda Harrington, Program Director of Infinity, are exactly why I knew other young professional women had to hear from her. I am a product of my mother's efforts to build my confidence and send me out into the real world with high self-esteem. It is important that we support and build up each other. There is a women's empowerment movement happening, can you feel it?!
At this luncheon with Audra Milligan, Nicole Stokes, Cindi Jacobsen, Miriam Gillespie, and Christina Golden, we focused on self-talk, meditation, and the idea that it is hard to see outside of yourself. I notice that women often speak negatively to themselves. Consider this when you are around your friends - do you hear self-doubt, fear, insecurity? Stop them in their tracks. I will often ask, "Wait, why can't you do that?" My friends should know by now that they are beautiful, deserving, strong, smart, fun, unstoppable people with valuable ideas. I believe anything is possible and I want them to know that too. Recently, one of my best friends was telling me that she didn't have time to do something that she wanted to achieve. Before I could respond, she corrected herself and said, "Oh yeah, you aren't the person to say that to. It's not that I don't have time, I'm just not making that a priority right now." That was music to my ears. Ladies, we can do anything. That saying that you can do anything you put your mind to is actually true! Believe in yourself and depend on your tribe to provide reinforcement.