People tend to mistake a
strong woman with an opinion for a bitch. And sadly, a lot of us women end up
believing the stereotype. We tend to be just as critical on our own kind. Most
of us have been programmed to think a certain way, and it’s not until the issue
is presented in a different light that we’re able to step back and honestly
assess the situation instead of just reacting.
Have you ever sat in a
meeting and decided not to voice your opinion to your colleagues out of fear of
being judge? Believe, the feeling of regret for not standing up for your
beliefs is way worse than the feeling of being judged. A lot of us are faced
with these situations all the time. It may even be a pattern of yours to sit
back. Well, that ends today.
The first step is to
feeling comfortable with voicing your opinion is to get over the fear of what
other people will think of you. People who judge you are only placing their own
insecurities upon you. You are not responsible for their reactions. You are
only responsible for being true to yourself.
Once you are over the fear
and are ready to voice your opinion make sure you do your research first. It is
important to stand up for what we believe in, but if your opinion has no real
substance you are basically committing the same crime of the judgmental person.
Do your homework. Be well educated on the topic. Look at the issue from
different perspectives. Try to put yourself in the shoes of everyone who is
being affected by the issue.
Lastly, be prepared. Once
you take a stand, prepare yourself to be tested by everyone involved. This is
when doing your homework is vital. Before you present your argument, make sure
you think of all the possible questions others will ask you. Come up with
creative solutions for each problem and make sure they work.
But most importantly,
follow your gut and believe in yourself. It only takes one person to make a
difference. So go ahead, take a stand.
Love,
Loren
