Women on Fire held its first gathering in New York City exactly 10 years ago this month. The feeling in the room that night was magical when everyone shared what they were “on fire” about, others listened and then cheered them on.
Have you told someone –or many someones — your greatest dreams and passions, had them really listen to you, and then celebrate you? It’s the best feeling ever!
Support for your dreams and goals is as elemental to your success as sunshine is to earth’s survival.
*This week’s Pinspiration*
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Since that first Women on Fire gathering in 2003, thousands of women — — no matter whether we were in a tea room or a ballroom — have participated in Women on Fire events and been inspired from the love and support given and received when they share their highest hopes.
What a joy to return to my alma mater Ohio State to conduct a Women on Fire Day with juniors, seniors, staff and mentors cheering each other on.
Most recently at The Ohio State University in Columbus, nearly 100 women participated in a Women on Fire Day to learn just how good it feels — and important it is — to share your truth and dreams and receive support for it.
And the women that day were additionally supported by seasoned Women on Fire who served as panelists: Mary Kay Purdy, Gail Forest, Liz Lessner and Nancy Kramer.
A co-author in our upcoming Women on Fire book, Mary Kay Purdy shares her life lessons and encouragement with Ohio State students.
These experienced, successful and generous women told their ups and downs over their long careers. They shared from their hearts to benefit Ohio State’s young women and to inspire and support them as they embark on their own journeys in the world.
In the center, Tracy Stuck, a Women on Fire member and Ohio State’s assistant vice president for Student Life, is an amazing mentor and supporter of many young men’s and women’s careers and lives.
Where are you right now in receiving enough support to see your dreams through? Who is there for you?
And, equally important …
How are you doing in cheering on other women with their goals? Do you?
One of the reasons women tell me they often don’t share their enthusiasm for their dreams — or even speak them out loud — is because they are teased, criticized, ridiculed, met with blank stares or jealousy.
There is no light of day for dreams kept under a bushel basket!
So, how can we become better cheerleaders of our own dreams and other women’s dreams, too?
Receiving and giving support is a balance like a teeter totter. Sometimes you give more, and other times you receive more, but the give and take of support provides just the lift you need to make your own endeavors successful.
Here I am with Women on Fire member Gail Forest of Atlanta, a role model for Ohio State students with her down-to-earth discussion of her own success and longing for dreams to come!
So this week, make a list of what you need support for and who might be able to help you. And, on another list, think of one woman in your life you’d like to give some support to. It may be as simple as sending her an email, connecting or referring someone to her who could help her, giving her some praise on Facebook.
You never know what your “you go, girl” might do for her!
Which list is easier for you? 🙂 Many women (me included!) say it’s much easier to help someone else rather than to ask for support for themselves.
Awareness, it is said, is 90% of the problem solved. So now that we are all aware of the role support plays in our success, let’s climb onto that teeter totter and create some balance of support!
A huge shout-out and my personal thanks to Ohio State student and photographer Katie Riccardella for all of the photos today! Especially the one above which captured the joy I felt during Women on Fire Day at Ohio State. If photography is your big dream, Katie, you are already rocking it!
Have a phenomenal week. I’ll see you later this week with our latest Book To Live By for October and a brand-new She’s A Woman on Fire! feature. I can hardly wait to share with you.
