Live Beyond Stress and Illness

Yesterday I found myself deeply moved by a post MJ had written at Rhymes with Migraine. She wrote about the power of unconditional self love and the Superwoman image that often keeps us from experiencing that love. In reading, I wanted to reach through my computer screen, take both of her hands in mine, look her straight in the eyes, and remind her over and over again that there IS a Superwoman inside her dying to be acknowledged and wanting to replace the old and un-evolved version most of us carry around to our demise.

My Superwoman Daze

I used to believe in that same old Superwoman. Until I realized that if I held on to her any longer she would kill me. I knew she would take every last ounce of my self-worth and my ability to love myself if I let her. I had to let her go, but how?

I realized I needed to replace my image of her with something else--Just like I traded in coffee for hot lemon-ginger water. I needed to replace her like I replaced my love for bike riding with tennis, (because I was getting exercise induced migraines on the bike but not on the tennis court.) I needed to revamp my definition of Superwoman and turn it into one that empowered me.

The Real Superwoman

I no longer believe in a Superwoman who does everything perfectly. I believe in a Superwoman who creates opportunity and looks for the positive side when the chips are down. I believe in a Superwoman who understands that the most heroic feat ever is learning to love herself unconditionally and makes it her mission to do so.

A real Superwoman doesn’t just glide through life effortlessly having everything turn out the way she planned. What would be so heroic about that? No, the real Superwoman takes on the BIG challenges in life like facing the uncertainties of illness, maneuvering through the unexpected, seeing her plans flop, and acknowledging her greatness anyway.

The real Superwoman doesn’t beat herself up when her fears tell her it’s appropriate. She’s more powerful than that. She loves herself through times of adversity. She loves herself unconditionally even when she wishes or wants to have done differently than she was capable of in some situations. She values the true perfection that she is and doesn’t equate her true perfection to her completing some “To Do” list. The real Superwoman is never coerced into action by an intense fear of not being good enough.

The Real Superwoman says “no” to the things an un-evolved Superwoman wouldn’t have the courage to say “no” to. She says, “No I will not let anyone else but me decide whether or not I am worthy.” And she says "Yes, I AM worthy!" She says “No, I choose to stay home tonight and get some much needed rest.” The real Superwoman says “no” to the things that do not honor her and “yes” to those things that do, and she knows the difference. The Real Superwoman measures her heroism by how unconditionally loving she can be to herself and those around her.

The Real Superwoman lives within each of us. Some of us may let her lead more than others, but nonetheless, she is there. She is there wanting to be acknowledged and wanting to be the greatest friend to you that you could ever have by your side cheering you on. Love her and she will love you back like you have never been loved before. And because every Superwoman needs an anthem to remind them of who they are—here you go Superwomen…turn this one up!