Empowerment Club

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”

-       Eleanor Roosevelt

Several weeks ago, I blogged about an empowerment workshop that my mother and I attended called “Life by Design,” led by dynamic speaker and author Cynthia Newman (see “What’s Holding You Back?” posted Nov 17, 2010).  The program allowed each attendee to clarify our dreams, identify what’s standing in our way, and create a plan to achieve our goals. If you’ve ever attended such an event, you know how fired up you feel when it’s over… ready to take on the world!  But if those plans are not immediately executed or kept top-of-mind, they soon fade and you may end up right back where you started.  So my mother, the wise woman that she is, suggested that I host a follow-up meeting early in the New Year to discuss the group’s progress and challenges, and to encourage one another to continue on our paths toward living our best lives.   Motivating girls and women to fulfill their dreams is a passion of mine, so of course I accepted!  The first “Empowerment Club” meeting was held in my home today, and I’m proud to say that it was a success!  What’s more, the event marked my mother’s catering debut, which is a dream of hers.  As the ladies and I discussed our progress and pitfalls since we last met – and enjoyed my mother’s fabulous food – I realized how important it is to have positive people in your life who believe in your ability to fulfill your dreams as much as you do. 

Who would you include in your Empowerment Club?

You’ve heard that old adage about “the company you keep.”  I remind my two boys almost daily that hanging with the wrong people usually leads to trouble.  In some cases “wrong” means “bad” but it can also mean “negative,” so we have to be careful about the people we allow into our inner circle.  Conversely, forging relationships with people who are positive, uplifting, and genuinely hold our best interest can propel us to greater heights.  Your Empowerment Club may consist of just one person or several, and be as formal or informal as you choose.  Size and formality are not important.  The idea is simply to receive encouragement as you encourage others.  This is important because even when you feel like giving up, or fear that your dreams will never happen, your Empowerment Club will empower you to keep at it until your dreams are a reality. 

Your comments are welcome.