How to be a self-empowered woman

 

March is National Women’s Month, and the word “empowerment” gets mentioned a lot in conversations furthering women’s causes. Empowerment is the act of making someone stronger and more confident, giving one the capability to take control of life.

AXA Philippines, one of the country’s leading insurance companies, believes women can empower themselves if they set their mind to it. Here are a few tips:

Set powerful goals. Setting goals gives you purpose and makes life even more meaningful. Whether it is saving up for your dream vacation or further studies, having goals and achieving them will make you feel more empowered. AXA can help you fulfill your dreams with AXA Asset Master, a single-pay, investment-linked insurance plan that lets you build a diversified investment portfolio of local and global investments.

Be independent. When was the last time you did something by yourself? One of the bravest things you can do as a woman is to be comfortable doing things on your own. Without people to depend on all the time, it is important to always feel secure. However, accidents and disasters cannot be completely avoided, so it helps to prepare for these types of emergencies. AXA Property Security offers protection for your residence against disasters like fire, flood, earthquake, and other natural disasters.

Speak up. Most women are afraid to share their thoughts and opinions because they think they might be judged or ridiculed. But look up to TV host Oprah Winfrey who stood up for other women by condemning sexual harassment acts in Hollywood during the Golden Globe Awards in 2018. If you know that you are doing and saying the right thing, speak up because it might change or save someone’s life. Empowered women stand by their convictions and are never ashamed to share their thoughts and feelings.

Empower other women. There’s nothing more powerful than women banding together and lifting each other up. See actress Emma Watson as an example—a passionate feminist who once said, “We want to empower other women to do exactly what they want, to be true to themselves, to have opportunities to develop.” Like her, you can help others celebrate their life and embrace their individuality by setting a good example — show them that they too can be strong and independent.

Embrace your imperfections. Women often find it easier to point out their flaws rather than their strengths. It is time to stop this unhealthy habit and start encouraging yourself; just like top American model Ashley Graham who has learned to love herself and embrace her curves despite being body-shamed many times before. You can slowly work on self-improvement by listing down your weaknesses, strengths, and unique characteristics to see what you need to work on. The more you respect yourself, the more others will respect you.

The path to being an empowered woman may be a slow process and oftentakes a lot of hard work. But in the long run, it will definitely be worth the effort.