‘Growing up’ as a businesswoman 20-odd years ago (yes I am that old), I was always taught to keep my personal life and business life separate. This black and white approach, which let’s face it, originated from the dark ages, also demanded from me a certain kind of staunch attitude and behaviour. In other words, if you were to make it in this predominantly male-led industry, then you had better have some big kahunas and not act like a girl.
Be staunch, show no mercy, justify every hard attitude to “it’s just business” and basically out-man the man – why? Because once upon a time we had to in order to be taken seriously in the workforce.
Fast forward 20 years and women in the New Zealand workforce account for nearly half of the total employed people. Our economy has benefited hugely from the rise of professional women staking their claim and adding significant value to our economy. This number will only ever grow as we continue to demand, and even expect without demand, equality in the workplace, equal pay rates, and anything our good men have been automatically given themselves. Because why not?
Even so, I must propose that there is still work to be done. And not in the bra-burning way you might imagine.
This work I speak of is all about embracing our womanhood and not apologising for the very clear differences in our gender. The jury’s out ladies – we do actually have ovaries. And we all have hormones and emotions that spring forth from multiple engine rooms within our bodies, so what are you going to do about it?
Firstly we need to accept that we are different from our male counterparts, and we need to be MORE than ok with that. Let’s not just embrace it, but celebrate it – and work with our bodies instead of ignoring them, being embarrassed by them, making excuses for them, or fighting against them.
One way to work with our bodies is to give them some powerful and effective natural support.
Natural health is all about supporting our bodies to do what they were always created to do. Yes, our bodies are amazing, but more and more they need support to remain healthy in this ever-growing toxic world. Natural health solutions are not just for the gipsies or greenies, or whatever other stereotypes you may have predetermined in your head.
In fact, today more than ever, humans all over the world are turning to powerful, effective and natural solutions. Why? Because they make sense, are often better than man-made medicine, and are even more accessible than ever before. Plus, natural alternatives are often far more effective at supporting our emotional health than anything else out there on our man-made shelves.
There are many things we can do, but today I want to highlight just three things you as a woman (professional or not) can do to help calm that beautiful farm – naturally.
1. BREATHE. As Doctor Craig Gordon often says to me (and I’m paraphrasing), our bodies were not designed to live in continuous fight or flight mode. If we are forever fleeing from the lion, that emotional stress response will start to become an unconscious default – hard-wired into our central nervous system where it will then become a physical stress response. That’s when our bodies start misbehaving and manifesting sickness. One solution to counteract this madness is to BREATHE. Yes I know that sounds funny, but most of us are not breathing correctly, because it is physically impossible to diaphragmatically breathe when you are stressed out. If you learn how to do this – and make it a daily habit – your body will be forced to release the stress, which will reprogram the central nervous system. So whether you are at work or at home, practise diaphragmatic breathing every chance you get!
2. MOVE. It’s common knowledge that physical activity stimulates the endorphins and dopamines needed to make you feel better. We know this, yet most of us don’t turn that knowledge into action (me included!). Work-hack: Be purposeful with your free time or your lunch breaks and take a simple walk. Pack your sneakers if you have to, and remind your bad attitude that it really isn’t Mount Everest, and your emotions will actually thank you for it.
3. SMELL. Emotional aromatherapy is actually a thing – and a very powerful thing might I add. When you inhale natural chemicals (certified pure therapeutic-grade essential oils), they travel through your olfactory gland, straight to your limbic brain which is actually the behaviour centre of your brain and is also the place that stores your memories and EMOTIONS. Bingo! So get your hands on this kind of natural goodness and use it to help balance your brain chemistry and manage those emotions – at home, and yes definitely at work. Check out my website for more information on this if you need to.
Ladies. It’s time to empower yourselves. Sing out if you need help with this!
Images: Designed by yanalya / Freepik & Freepik.
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