“Pressures on women today require them to be far more active with their masculine energy, and this habitual doing is steadily eroding women’s ability to be.” – Jennifer Granger from ‘Feminine Lost’
I’ve always considered myself a feminist.
I was socialized to be an achiever and perform well in academics. Showing up a boy in math or science was serious brownie points.
As a Gen Xer, I could play with Transformers and Cabbage Patch Dolls.
I was socialized to be independent and self-sustaining. Going to college was an expectation and so was the pursuit of a career before starting a family.
Accomplishments were my contribution as social proof that women are leaders, thinkers, and equal competitors in the workplace.
By the age of 30, I had been promoted 4 times, had over 20 direct reports, and managed a $5M national education program.
And all of this was quite exhausting.
I have never experienced serious discrimination or degradation by being female. For this, I am forever appreciative to the women pioneers who made this possible.
It was necessary for the feminists of the 60s, 70s, and 80s to swing the gender pendulum to pave the way for social, civil, financial, and educational equality.
But there is an unintended consequence.
Women continue to assert that traditional masculine qualities of doing, achievement, and competition are of higher value than traditional feminine qualities of being, creativity, and receptivity.
The basis of being good enough is founded on being man enough.
That’s not right.
Before you get all fired up, pause and breathe.
How open are you to believe that both masculine and feminine qualities are necessary and equally valuable?
Every woman has both masculine and feminine aspects.
Every man has both masculine and feminine aspects.
We need both to exist and be in balance as individuals, couples, and a society.
An inherent feminine quality is TO BE.
An inherent masculine quality is TO DO.
You need to BE and to DO in life, but my previous life’s incessant need to only do and achieve created a serious imbalance that led to complete burnout, health, and marriage problems.
As my well-being and relationships crumbled from all the masculine doing, I didn’t pick up the pieces.
Instead, I shifted my attention and learned to be.
You are meant to be a human being, not a human doing.
It is from your feminine sense of being – being open, present, spacious, receptive, relaxed – that sustainable and worthwhile doing is possible.
Without being, your doing feels heavy, rushed, and burdened.
It is from your sense of being that connects you to love, nature, peace, and compassion.
If you desire less stress and more peace, are you open to explore your natural feminine nature of being?
Are you willing to embrace the perspective that being is of equal value to doing?
If you are a woman, you are majoring in being female.
If you feel out of balance, you are likely operating more from your masculine than feminine side.
Come with me to embrace your feminine being!!! <I’m still learning too!>
Learning to BE allow you to:
- not feel rushed
- not base your value on accomplishments, status, or things
- joyfully connect with yourself, others, and nature
- spark your creativity
- enjoy the day, the sunshine, the trees, this moment!
- see clearly
- make wise decisions
- feel sensual
- be at peace
It’s time for strong women to stand still.
It’s time for women to embrace and embody their feminine being as beautiful and necessary and more than enough.
Let’s acknowledge the masculine and feminine as equally valuable and necessary for our common humanity.
How will you cultivate your feminine nature of being with gleeful permission? <and if you don’t know how or can’t, sign up for my free video series below, ‘How To Stop Overscheduling’ to get you started.>
Write a comment below and let me know!
Strong Women Stand Still,
Angela
