To be empowered women, we have to determine who we are and what we are going to allow to define us.
We've given our power away for so long to:

1. Toxic people in our lives because we were taught, as little girls, we had to get along with everyone
2. Parents who still run (or greatly influence) our lives as adults because we are still programmed to do what they say, or at least think about it and stress ourselves out
3. Situations that are less than ideal because we were told to be grateful for what we have and that we are selfish to want more

As women, we are experts at letting what happens to us define who we are and let these situations become our fault, reality, destiny and identity.
So, what does define you?

1. What you've accomplished in your life OR what you wish you had accomplished?
2. The wonderful family you raised OR the fact that you feel you should have been a better mother?
3. Surviving a horrific situation no little girl or woman should have to endure OR that you let it happen?
4. The job you've kept for 20 years OR the disappointment that you never had the guts to do what you really wanted?

Do you see where I'm going with this? Women are excellent at being martyrs and victims because so many things in our childhood years told us that suffering was virtuous! How much life do we let pass by before we open our minds to what we know is true instead of what someone else believed? Why are so many of us in our 40's before we figure out who we are? Why does it take that long? By the time we mature and have lived life the way others told us to and realized it is often unfulfilling, we look around at what else is available to us.
We seek personal growth, spiritual enlightenment and the real meaning of our life.
We become empowered.
The dragonfly spends most of its life becoming that beautiful, iridescent creature we see flying and hovering around the water it grew up in.
Like the dragonfly, we spend most of our lives gaining experience and knowledge to become what we would like to be.
As we age to perfection (wink), we express our feelings freely, choose our friends carefully and celebrate the journey we've been on.
We become empowered.
We define ourselves by who we have become, not by what we've let pass us by.
What do you allow to define YOU?