by desing | Faith & Purpose, Tools
A Powerful Woman Discovering Purpose in her Individuality
Discovering purpose is the first step in becoming a powerful woman. A powerful woman does not need to possess exorbitant amounts of strength, or race hard to stay ahead of her competition. In fact, to be respected and influential, a woman doesn’t need to walk at all. She just needs to be unique.
Artist, Sue Austin is a powerful woman who happens to live life from a position of honor: sitting in her power chair. With no use of her legs, Austin harnesses power, and empowers others, through her individuality. Discovering purpose in her circumstances, she now drives her life in ways that inspire countless women today.
All too often, it is easy to think being different is negative, unacceptable, and even weak. These stereotypes discount how our individual experiences may empower other women to accomplish great goals.
Sue Austin contradicts this typecast with every move she makes. The paraplegic artist and scuba diver is an extraordinary example of how a woman living with disability can transform her life by harnessing the power of individuality.
Over 15 years ago, Austin began using a wheelchair to aide her mobility. Immediately, she noticed when using such a device, people around her implied (with either words or actions) that she had limitations they did not.
Austin was confused as to why such a negative label was placed on her just because she used a wheelchair. After all, she didn’t feel at a disadvantage. In fact, she had a renewed sense of power when moving through life in what she refers to as a power chair.
As a result, Austin decided to use her individual experiences in a wheelchair to grow her creative abilities. Today, pictures of her art installations and tales of her scuba diving adventures extend far beyond the disability community. Each day Sue Austin sets out to prove using a wheelchair is not a limitation, but rather a unique tool that enables her to be a powerful woman. She conquers impossible goals by ignoring societal boundaries that are in the way of her dreams.
A paraplegic, Austin overcomes stereotypes that often accompany disability. She is a woman solidifying her legacy by embracing her individuality.
What if all women today were to embrace Austin’s philosophy, and drive their lives from individual “power chairs”? What could the world be like then? How would families be different? To what heights could business organizations grow? Would governments operate differently?
Whether we listen to outside opinions or set up internal roadblocks, women are often tempted to limit their power by imposing negative labels of their skills and dreams. To truly embrace your legacy and become a powerful woman, you must move beyond these sabotaging cycles. As Austin’s example proves, discovering purpose comes from embracing individuality; or taking a seat in your power chair and driving it to success.
Take some time now to consider what individual experiences make you unique. These traits may be your power chair.
Resources: http://www.disabilityliving.ca/disability-canada-sue-austin-sees-wheelchair-asset-not-liability/
http://www.ted.com/speakers/sue_austin.html
http://magnificentmarvelouswomen.wordpress.com/2009/01/22/the-power-of-individuality-have-courage-and-follow-your-own-path/
by desing | Faith & Purpose, Tools
I know we go through our days with plenty of “Hey, how are you?” greetings and we hear the same response: “OK. How are you?” We usually say things like, “good, fine, alright, peachy, wonderful, etc.” no matter how we’re REALLY doing. Most people aren’t really asking how you’re doing in that sense; it’s just a nice pleasantry.
If we’re very honest about our mental and emotional states, I think we would all agree that more often than we’d like, we’re not Ok. We wear the smile and play the part, but deep inside something is awry. Something feels sad, or anxious, or missing. As a matter of fact, life could actually be going quite well. You’ve got a decent job, loving partner, good kids, money for Starbucks lattes and a cool pair of jeans; yet, when you lie your head down on the pillow at night to go to sleep, there’s still a nagging feeling of….blah.
You can’t shake the feeling
You can’t quite put your finger on why you can’t shake it or where it stems from. During the days you don’t notice it as much due to busyness with work and engaging with people. Sometimes the feeling pulsates stronger than others. Some people drink, pop pills, or try to dull the ache with some sort of temporary fix. Some people embrace it and dance with it often.
I’m reminded of a time when I was going through a literal emotional hell in my late 30’s. At a time when all was supposed to be going well in life, I was wallowing in self-pity, depression, fear, shame, and much more. I’d always taken pride in “being Ok”. I was the strong one; the one who did it all right. Until my dam burst and I was forced by some invisible force or God or something to deal with all the pain and junk I’d stuffed since my childhood. I was having a breakdown, yet every time someone said, “Hey! How are you?” I would smile and say, “Great! How are you?” A lie. A cowardly lie.
OMG, I’m going crazy!
I received two enlightening books after struggling deep inside for a couple of years and they really opened my eyes to a new concept: I wasn’t going crazy. They were “Broken Open” by Elizabeth Lesser and “You’re Not Going Crazy…You’re Just Waking Up!” by Michael Mirdad. Both books discussed how this journey of life is simply a journey of “waking up” and the struggles, frustrations, unexpected twists, and even the wonderful times are simply part of the process the soul goes through for transformation.
I tell you they were eye opening for me and I wished I would have been able to see the truth of it all while I was face down in tears for too many years. Mirdad discusses the Five Stages of the Soul Transformation and after reading the book I could see how I went through each of those stages through my darkest years. The journey to liberation and enlightenment or consciousness really is a dark to light journey; you just don’t always know it until you get through it.
So if you’re at the point where you don’t feel like things are going Ok, rest assured that they will be. Whatever it is you’re going through right now or have been going through are teaching you lessons about yourself, life, and love. If you’re pressing through and not resorting to numbing the pain through addictive measures, your consciousness is expanding and you’re growing spiritually.
The soul longs to grow and expand. As you journey, you will face dark times and things won’t always be Ok, but you’re able to grow through it all, become stronger, more loving, and wiser. If you’re at a spot where you aren’t Ok, feel what you have to feel and allow change to come. Maybe you’ve got old hurts that need healed. Perhaps you’re being stretched to become a more giving person. Or maybe at your core you simply just crave more intimacy with the Divine or the Divine aches for intimacy with you.
Things don’t always go as planned
The world does not revolve around us
Feel the nudge beneath the surface
Embrace it and don’t run
Acknowledge the spiritual path
Allow the breeze to flow through you
Heal the old wounds
Let go of all that does not serve you
You’re not alone, crazy, or a failure
You’re just waking up!
