I share hereunder some tips I gave to participants who attended the Past Pupils’ Association of Holy Faith Convent, Couva, on the observation of International Women’s Day on March 8. The event was held last Sunday.
– Let your faith define you; let the Holy Spirit move in and through you. Make time to develop your spirituality; to remain connected daily to the Lord; to deepen your faith. It is your faith that will help you to be strong and to weather any storm. It will help you to persevere through any adversity. Keep God at the centre of your life. Remember, that without God we can do nothing. Jesus said: “Abide in me as I abide in you.” (Jn15:4). Be the best that you can be. Let your Christian values underpin your life: values such as love, integrity, humility, servanthood/service, hospitality, generosity, compassion, love and respect for self, for others and for all God’s Creation.
– Be a positive role model to others. But to do so, you need to choose positive role models and mentors, and surround yourself with positive, supportive people. Be sure to have a support group/network of people – family and friends – who are really interested in your well-being and development and do not want to pull you down as part of the ‘crab in the barrel’ syndrome that is so prevalent today. Get a good mentor(s) – this helps.
– Time is precious, so prioritise your time/plan your activities daily/organise yourself. But in the process look after yourselves/your bodies. Find some ‘me’ time in your busy day. Find time for introspection/examination of conscience; commune with nature as part of this process. Be honest with yourself; identify your weaknesses and work to strengthen them. This will help you to be more productive. I have learned the hard way that when the Lord shows you signs that you are ill, you must act or face the consequences.
– Spend quality time with your significant others: husband, children, parents etc. Try to live a balanced life. Pope Francis tells us that this includes time for work, family and prayer (19.8.2015).
– Do not be afraid to dream big and to work to achieve your dreams. Pope Francis told youths: “Do not bury your talents, the gifts that God has given you. Do not be afraid to dream of great things.”
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– Have confidence in yourself and do not be afraid to be assertive. We all have potential. Unlock yours. Set goals for yourself and believe that you can achieve them. In pursuing your goals, do not do so at any cost – sometimes people can trample on others to move up. Not good. And if you fall, and you may do, several times, just get up, dust yourself off and move on. Failures are part of life. Learn from your mistakes. Never give up. It was Confucius who said:” Our greatest glory is not in never failing but in rising every time we fail.”
– Remember the saying: ‘If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.’ Too often we sit and wait for opportunities to come our way. Be proactive. Challenge yourself. Don’t be afraid to take risks. The French author, Andre Gide, said: “(Wo)man cannot discover new oceans unless (s)he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.”
– You don’t have to dress and act like a man to succeed. As Pope Francis says, the world needs to embrace the Feminine Genius.
– Embrace volunteerism. Share your talents/skills to build the common good. As the saying goes: “Work for a cause, not for applause.” “Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy.” Pope Francis’ words are noteworthy: “Do not be content to live a mediocre Christian life… The world tells us to seek success, power and money. God tells us to seek humility, service and love…A little bit of mercy makes the world less cold and more just.”
– Remember that we are all called to be saints, and as the saying goes: “Be careful how you live. You may be the only Bible some people read.” Or as St Francis of Assisi said: “It is no use walking anywhere to preach unless our walking is our preaching.” Pope Francis urges us to: “Be holy by becoming a visible sign of God’s love and His presence beside us… let us support one another, because we do not travel the path to holiness by ourselves.” Know your worth. Do not let anyone put a ceiling on your potential. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil 4:13).
Go forth, women of Faith, and realise your God-given potential. You are made in God’s image. Let your light shine like a beacon in our troubled world. Be a change agent and, as St Pope John Paul II said in his homily to those gathered at World Youth Day in Denver, Colorado, USA in 1993: “Offer your…energies and your talents to building a civilisation of Christian love…commit yourself to the struggle for justice, solidarity, and peace.”
