YWSE Takes On…The Feminine Super Power of PAUSE

A first-hand account of the wisdom shared at the January 7^th YWSE workshop with Christine Arylo

By:  Madeleine Anderson, intern for Madly in love with ME

For many of us high achieving women, January is a time of planning: of vowing to do more, to aim higher, to be better. We make New Year’s resolutions, vow to keep them, and then beat ourselves up when we ultimately fail to complete all the tasks that we set out for ourselves. The question is: who are we really doing all of this for? What are we trying to prove? And finally, is there another way?

Christine Arylo shows us that there is. On January 7^th, I accompanied Christine to a gathering with the Young Women Social Entrepreneurs, where she spoke about how the energy of self-love can guide us throughout the year and help us live our truest, deepest and wisest selves.

Christine led the group in a reflection on the past year, which she calls the Feminine Super Power of PAUSE. She spoke about how we can generate personal themes and goals for the year that reflect our self-love, rather than making a laundry list of tasks that will leave us feeling exhausted and uninspired. Finally, we explored our successes, failures, surprises and learnings through the four directions of a medicine wheel.

As Christine’s intern, I had already witnessed the power of self-love through the work I have been doing with her behind the scenes in the office: looking up self-love quotes, inviting virtual networks of friends to events, and working with the Madly in Love with ME Manifesta.  However, attending this event gave me the chance to truly experience the power of PAUSE and the energy of self-love. Being in such a creative, soulful and transformational space felt amazing! Finally, I was able to both hear the significance of Christine’s words of wisdom and see the powerful effect that her ideas have on other women. The energy in the room was palpable—I could feel it coming collectively from the group as well as from every woman as she stood up to cross from 2009 into 2010, bringing what she wanted and leaving behind that which did not serve her. The transformation was happening before my own eyes, and I was part of it! When I stood up to bring the quality of gentleness for myself into 2010, I could feel the wonderful support of all the women in the room behind me.

 

So as we transition into the new year, I invite you to stop. To reflect. To practice self-love, at every moment, in good times and in hard ones. And remember, as Christine shared with us: it is your happiness that is your biggest success.

About Madeleine:
Madeleine Anderson studies Spanish
and Education at Mills College. She is passionate about learning and literature, and is looking forward to becoming a high school teacher in the near future. When she's not in class, Madeleine loves to dance, travel, read, and connect with people she meets along the way. Madeleine is excited to be working with Christine Arylo and Madly in Love with ME, and hopes she will live to see the day when women and girls all over the world feel inspired to love themselves!

YWSEs In Action:  The Feminine Super Power of PAUSE workshop was made possible due to the time, talent and leadership contributions of YWSE members and friends -- Beth Fuller, Jennifer K. Hoffman, Kami Griffiths, Katherine Monahan, Rebecca Diaz and Tigisti Waldeab.  THANK YOU!