Happy International women’s day to you all beautiful people. This year's International Women's Day campaign has chosen the theme #ChooseToChallenge with the idea that a challenged world is an alert world and individually, we're all responsible for our own thoughts and actions.
"We can all choose to challenge and call out gender bias and inequality," the campaign states.
We can all choose to seek out and celebrate women's achievements. Collectively, we can all help create an inclusive world. Let's all choose to challenge - To Women!
The power that women hold within themselves has been my force throughout my life. From childhood with my strong mother, grandmothers, sisters, my mother in law, sister in law & my closest female friendships, I’ve had the greatest gift of being surrounded by loving and inspiring women who are strong and graceful. I was raised in a household where we all are encouraged to speak our minds and be.
In honor of International Women’s Day - and Women’s History Month I want to celebrate all kinds of women. Throughout history, people have given importance to the beauty of the human body. Society, media, social media, and popular culture often shape these views, and this can affect how a person sees their own body. I have also seen all these beautiful & strong women around me feeling guilty when they set out time for themselves. Consciously or subconsciously they have made themselves less worthy or less important. Low self esteem and issues related to body image are very common in women. I want to focus on the beauty of our wonderful bodies; inside and out! My mind has always questioned “why my mom doesn’t value herself the way she values all the other people around her” My mother has been working since I was three years old. She balanced her home, raised four children, worked with passion but still didn’t give herself the much needed appreciation that I believe she deserves. Only if she could see herself through my eyes she would know how strong, graceful and successful she is. Cheers to all the women and a reminder how important we are.
Accept and appreciate the whole body
The way it looks and all the wonderful things it does for you. It's okay to feel conscious about yourself rather one must be mindful but it is certainly not okay if someone else makes you feel bad for not being to their standards of “beauty”. Also it is not okay to be harsh on yourself. Give yourself a hug and appreciate your physical abilities. Respect your body by listening to what it wants, give your body the much needed love and appreciation. Nourish your body with wholesome nutritious meals & uplifting thoughts. Hydrate your body with filtered water,fresh vegetable and fruit juices.
Focus on inner positivity -
Practice positive self-talk. Say, “My arms are strong” rather than, “My arms are flabby.”
Make a list of 10 things you like about yourself. Remind yourself that true beauty is not just skin deep. Beauty is state of mind, not state of your body. When you carry yourself with grace, self acceptance & confidence it makes your aura beautiful. To enhance it more surround yourself with positive people. Also try shutting all the noise in your brain which is telling you that you aren’t enough. Be kind, do the right thing and you will automatically start glowing. You can’t control how other people receive your energy. Everyone has their own way of perceiving things which most of the time depends on what they are going through. It is not about you. Just keep doing your thing with as much integrity & love as much possible. Grow what you go through!
Unlearn old patterns - Feeling uncomfortable is “bad or “wrong” not everything uncomfortable is negative. When we want to see the change we have to make a change and change can sometimes be uncomfortable but a good one! Stop pretending that you are okay when you are not. Own your feelings and express them for what they are. Honour how you feel. Stop shaming yourself when you make a mistake. It’s alright we all make mistakes, that's how we learn. Embrace your mistakes with grace. The other one that most of us have learnt is that “I have to earn the break, rest. We all deserve a much needed break. We don't have to earn it.
Self Worth - The idea of being successful to be worthy is a wrong idea. We all are worthy of love and respect. We earn love and respect through our karma, actions. Define your own success through your goals that you make for yourself not based on what society expects. We can choose for ourselves who we want to be or who we can be. A homemaker, wife, mother or a working mom. We have to set the bar for ourselves and just give our best to what we do. We need to raise our girls to think that they can have it all if they want; from a home, kids to career. We also need to raise our boys to want that for them. I work because it gives me self actualization, it's my space independent of my role as a daughter, mother, wife and a homemaker.
Compliments - Lets compliment each other the way we want to be complimented.
Non physical compliments just hit differently. “ I admire your strength and dedication” “ I love how I can be myself with you” You are such a great listener” “You inspire me to be my best self” “I am so proud of you and everything you do” “You always know how to make me laugh” “thank you for making me feel safe”
Compliment yourself - “I am worthy” I believe in myself” I am enough” “I am brave” “I am beautiful” “I am talented”
Today I would like to conclude with some of my favorite quotes by amazing women who have raised the bar higher for all of us:
“Defined by no man, you are your own story, blazing through the world, turning history into herstory. And when they dare to tell you about all the things you cannot be, you smile and tell them , I am both war and woman and you cannot stop me.” - Nikita Gill
“Only make decisions that support your self-image, self-esteem, and self-worth.” - Oprah Winfrey
“Even if it makes others uncomfortable, I will love who I am.” - Janelle Monae'
“I think it’s great to be flawed. I am hugely flawed, and I like it that way. That’s the fun of life. You fall, get up, make mistakes, learn from them, be human and be you.” - Priyanka Chopra
“I respect myself and insist upon it from everybody. And because I do it, I then respect everybody, too.” - Maya Angelou
Now unclench your jaws, roll your shoulders back and take a big belly breath. Reflect on all the beautiful women who have inspired or changed your life in some way and give them gratitude from your heart and don’t forget yourself. Namaste.
Health, love & light
Manika
4 comments
Preeti Gandhi
Mar 15, 2021 at 09:53Your writing is beautiful and from the heart. Often times we tend to spiral into a series of self doubt. Your writing is like a warm hug to those struggling. Keep writing!
HolisticBuys
Mar 12, 2021 at 17:36Thank you so much!
Munit
Mar 12, 2021 at 17:34You have provided valuable information and great tips for personal satisfaction.
Aparna
Mar 12, 2021 at 17:34😍🙏🏼