The Feminine Force

After all, God made man and then said, ‘I can do better than that’ - and made woman

— Adele Rogers St Johns, American writer

Recently three of my girlfriends and I were having a conversation about men, when one of them burst out, "In my next life, I want to be a man.” The other two agreed adamantly.

"But it's wonderful being a woman,” I protested. "Why would you want to be a man? Don't you think women are so privileged in many ways? Like being able to dress up in the most beautiful clothes, dine at the most exclusive restaurants or watch an opera without having to pay?”

I went and asked some male friends, "If there was such a thing as reincarnation, would you rather be a man or woman?” "Man!" they exclaimed.

With despair in my heart (Gosh, if there were reincarnation, and we had a choice, there might not be any women left, except me!), I picked up a book by former CEO of La Prairie, Georgette Mosbacher, called Feminine Force. The title of her first chapter was “I Love Being Woman.” Phew!

Mosbacher went on to say, "I've never wanted to be anything but a woman. That's why I'm dismayed when I see women focus on the idea that as women, we are victims.” Exactly my thoughts.

Now Mosbacher has had her share of difficulties in life. She lost her father when she was seven, took care of her younger brother and sisters while her mother worked, left a "kind and generous husband, only to end up with an abusive one which in turn ended in a nasty divorce.”

But she didn't see herself as a victim. Neither did Landa Wachner, CEO of Warnaco, the only woman in the United States to head a Fortune 500 company, who at 11, had to be put in a full body cast because of a spinal disorder. Nor did Oprah Winfrey, another pioneer who worked her way up from the most oppressive circumstances to become a star and a household name. Or the multitudes of other women who survived the worst adversities to triumph over them.

Society has set so many limits on women. "Girls are not supposed to climb trees." "She's such a slut as she has slept with so many men." "Ok, women don't need degrees, they just need to get a rich husband.”

And women themselves have simply gone along or reinforced these values and ideas.

Actress Roseanne Arnold once said, "The thing women have got to learn is that nobody gives you power. You just take it.”

All I'm saying is we don't have to be the victim. In every road we take we have a choice of which turning to take. And every woman has a feminine force she can draw on to help her make that choice as well as help smoothen the path.

Mosbacher has 72 Feminine Force principles, some of which I'd like to share with you:

• "I'm totally responsible for myself and know this is the one and only path to true happiness, success, and freedom."
• "I have the courage to take the first small step and I know it will illuminate the next one."
• "I start by accepting my reality. Then I change it."
• "My appearance is talking and I like what it is saying."
• "I do not need to lean on others in order to create the life I choose for myself."
• "I can compromise and still win.”
• "Self-pity is a poor excuse for not moving forward."
• "There may be moments when I'm scared. But I can't be stopped."
• "They can call me whatever they want. I know who I am."

Helen Reddy sings, "I am woman, hear me roar. In numbers too big to ignore. And I know too much to go back and pretend."

I love being a woman. Don't you?

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Written by Jessica See. Jessica is a certified health coach, certified Lifestyle Medicine professional, and certified professional trainer. She is the editor of the magazine Mind Matters, and has written several books – Reset, Reshape, Revitalise and Habits of Health.

Ready to let your feminine force shine? Book a session with Jessica today and start your journey toward self-empowerment.