Current circumstances are challenging the world to change and a theme for the 2021 International Women’s day is to choose the challenge that will lead us to the much-needed changes. Women are at the forefront of diversity and inclusiveness movements (in the streets and online). They are leading with compassion, caring with devotion and juggling the work-life balance like never before.

During just the last couple of months Kamala Harris became the first women Vice President of the U.S who shared the stage with Amanda Gorman as the first US National Youth Poet Laureate and youngest poet to perform at an inauguration and later the first poet to perform at the Super Bowl. Not long after Kamala, Kaja Kallas became Estonia’s first female Prime Minister next to the female President of her country. Zara Mohammed the youngest person and first woman to be elected as the Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain. The CEO of Bumble Inc. Whitney Wolfe Herd  became the youngest female founder to take a US company public. The first woman was appointed by Pope Francis as an undersecretary to the Synod of Bishops and the former minister of finance in Nigeria was chosen to be the new director general of the World Trade Organization, making Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala the first woman and first African ever to hold the position. Jasmine Harrison at 21 years old became the youngest woman to row solo across the Atlantic in February and Chloé Zhao was the second-ever woman to win the Golden Globe Award for best director following the first who was Barbra Streisand – to highlight just a few.

Let us celebrate the achievements of women across the globe who are paving the way for little girls of the future. You might not be stepping onto a stage to receive an award or be in line to become the president of your country – but every voice has a place and purpose. According to Achim Steiner, Administrator at UNDP this year’s International Women’s Day is a rallying cry for Generation Equality. “It is time to finally fully harness the power of women’s leadership to realise a more equal, more inclusive and more sustainable future.”

Today we celebrate the women who have chosen the challenges that bring change!

Source: World Economic Forum

These turbulent times can lead to the Sacrifice Syndrome also known as burn-out. If you are feeling stressed, under-pressure, nervous, anxious or overwhelmed, this can trigger the negative neuro-endocrine cascade and exacerbate your ability to cope and even damage your health. To ensure you manage your life better, implement the following:

• Take control of your calendar and ensure you allocate lunch breaks as well as 10 minute breaks in the morning and afternoon. Take the time for yourself. If you don’t value yourself, it’s almost impossible for others to value you.
• The more you become aware of your value and potential, the more you are able to value those around you. As you cultivate mindfulness you release tension.
• It’s ok to feel lost, to be overwhelmed, this can lead to important discoveries about yourself and your potential in this world.
• The more you cultivate acceptance of challenges, and your awareness to be in a wise relationship with these challenges, the easier it becomes to let difficulties go.
• Know that you are worthy. You are eternally worthy and deserving of prosperity, career success and total well-being. As you remind yourself to live in unconditional love, you bring healing to yourself and others.
• You are not here by accident. Your journey has not been in vain. You can replace fear by learning to be in a wise relationship with the unwanted.

By Gail Cameron

Photo by Paige Cody on Unsplash