Several months ago Ron and I joined Toastmasters International. Toastmasters International’s mission is "We empower individuals to become more effective communicators and leaders." The local club’s mission is "to provide a supportive and positive learning experience in which members are empowered to develop communication and leadership skills, resulting in greater self-confidence and personal growth”.
That certainly sounds like an experience that would benefit all of us.
It is an experience I battled against for several years. As I look back to determine why I procrastinated the only logical reason I can come up with is our old friend FEAR!
So what was the fear, I ask, what would happen if I became a more effective communicator and leader? The answer seems pretty clear, I would have to step out of my comfort zone and begin the work I came to do.
Someone recently asked me, "Is there a difference between being called and being driven?" I like the way Ron put it, "the call is the pull, being driven is the push." I think that once you answer the call you are driven to do the work.
Many of us believe, because we were taught as a child, that it is conceited to believe that we are being called to do special work. I do not believe that it is conceit to admit to what we feel is true for us. I would call it finally getting honest. Getting honest with ourselves is absolutely necessary if we are to find peace in our lives.
From a very young age I have known that I was a leader; that I was called to be more, see more, and do more than was comfortable for me. I therefore have used many ploys to keep myself way too busy to be more than a wife, mother, excellent housecleaner, etc. { all of which I have now outgrown,}I feel sure that most of you out there can identify with all the tools we women use to hide from what we know we must do. Hiding does not make it go away, there is no busy, busy enough to take away what we came here to do!
I recently had the opportunity to enjoy a video of a speech made by Jean Houston. If you're not familiar with Jean Houston check her out, she is a phenomenal woman, she is the author of 26 books, currently the advisor to UNICEF. "Jean Houston's mind should be considered a national treasure", said Buckminster Fuller. I bring up Jean Houston because I was mightily impressed with this statement, "that it is the post menopausal woman that will bring our world to peace." As you who know me or have read some of my blogs know that I am a firm believer in the fact that it is time for women to step out and become leaders as we find a way to move out of chaos, out of wars that kill our loved ones and into a world of peace.
As I have progressed in my work with Toastmasters I have completed the first challenge of 10 speeches which now declares me a “Competent Communicator!” It is a nice title. However I am not sure that it prepares me to step out of my comfort zone and do the work I feel called, driven, and compelled to do.
What is this work I feel called to do? I feel that it is time for women to unite, to come together and begin to step forward as leaders. It is easy to see our world is in a mess and the leadership we have today is not helping! I am not sure what the answer is, but I believe without a doubt that we as women can come together and find the solution and lead our world to peace!
As I talk about every week in our yoga classes, if we are to find peace in the world, then we must first find peace within ourselves!
I believe the first step to peace within its to begin to love and appreciate ourselves. To believe and to know that as a woman I AM SPECIAL! “I am strong, I am invincible, I am WOMAN!” as Helen Reddy sang to us in the 70’s.
The first step to believing in yourself is to surround yourself with people who also believe in you! Perhaps at this time in your life you do not know enough people who believe in you to surround yourself, so begin with just one or two. If you cannot find in your life one or two people who believe in you, then you have a little more work to do on you. Call me, I will get you started!
Questions to ask yourself on your journey to loving and appreciating you. What do I like about myself? What is special about me? What am I really good at? What do I really enjoy doing? - How can I do more of what I'm really enjoy doing? Who are some people that I really enjoy being around?
There is really no need to ask yourself negative questions about yourself because you already have enough input into what is wrong with you! It is time now to find out,” WHAT is RIGHT about YOU?”
YOU ARE ALL RIGHT!
I would like you to know and I am here to tell you, YOU ARE INCREDIBLY WONDERFUL, YOU ARE UNIQUE AND SPECIAL, THERE IS NO OTHER LIKE YOU ON THIS PLANET! – YOU ARE HERE FOR A SPECIAL PURPOSE AND YOU ARE READING THIS AT THIS TIME BECAUSE YOU ARE CALLED, AND IT IS TIME TO BEGIN YOUR WORK!
As Alan Cohen says in his book LIFESTYLES of the RICH IN SPIRIT, "We cannot afford to wait for someone else out there to fix the world for us. That's how Hitler's anti-Christ and boogey men get born . . .
The miracle is that no one really has to do it single-handedly. Everyone is joined by many others who are inspired by love to do their part. When we were born on earth, each of us was given a certain sphere of activity to influence – some larger, some smaller, all eventually touching all."
So come on WOMEN and guys if you willing, let's step up and out of our comfort zone, let's begin a new way ! TODAY!
Remember it begins with the you!
My title was Persuade, Inspire, Convince, and call to Action! I trust all of these are happening in you RIGHT NOW.
I Trust you feel my sincerity and my willingness to help
THANKS
Yoga Yaya
