#IWD2021 #ChooseToChallenge #InternationalWomansDay #StrongWomen #Inspiration #ChallengeToChoose #Adversity #BreakingBarriers #Equality #Empower Archives

14 June 202114 June 2021

How To Be An Ally

In honour of Pride Month we would like to share some tips with you on how to be a (better) ally for those you love. The world is increasingly becoming uncertain with divided opinions and standpoints, with the common denominator being the fact that we all want to fight for what we believe in. How can you fight for what you believe in? Become an ally!

What is an ally? An ally is someone who may not be a member of a community, but supports them. Whether it's to combat; racism, sexism, homophobia and/or the absence of mental wellbeing awareness you can recognise your privilege and use this to empower others.

We encourage you to do more research on your own to properly start your journey as this is an important topic that can change lives.

Go from curious to courageous.

“Unity makes the community!” – The Like Me CIC

“The time is always right, to do something right.” – Martin Luther King JR

Here are 8 suggestions to be a (better) Ally:

Acknowledge & Understand Your Privilege
Educate Yourself With Research
Never Stop Learning
Listen!
Speak Up / Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable
Avoid “Performative Allyship”
Learn From Your Mistakes
Amplify The Voices & Messages Of Those You Support
Show up.

To learn more in detail about how you can be a better ally click here.

The puzzle pieces of becoming an ally work together to create a better sense of community and reach towards the goal of equality and unity. We can all learn more, so why not?

The main message of these tips is for you to be open for putting yourself out there in order to stand up for what you believe in. Try to be consistent and considerate to those you support and those you do not agree with.

“I speak to everyone in the same way, whether he is the garbage man or the president of the university.” ― Albert Einstein

It’s important to recognise that we can empower and help others without being disrespectful. ” In a gentle way, you can shake the world” – Mahatma Ghandi.

We all have the ability to help others and its our choice if we want to enforce it. Are you an ally?

Our mission is to empower 1000 women to ‘climb their mountain’ so that they break down their barriers and reclaim their power. Join us. For more details about how we can help you to ‘climb your mountain’ – check out our free events here

28 April 202130 April 2021

Rise From The Ashes with Sophie Medlin

The annual Woman Like Me L&B Conference is taking place this June, Saturday the 26th. This years theme is Rising From The Ashes and our speakers will share stories from the heart about how they have risen from the ashes. Our mission is to reveal hidden stories that make us who we are to empower women. To attend you must register your ticket here. This year you have the power to choose between in person and virtual attendance.

To get the chance to win a FREE ticket to this event feel free to enter your details below to our Prize Draw for the chance to attend completely free of charge!

Runner ups don’t fret as you may also win a discounted ticket of up to 40% off!

ENTER PRIZE DRAW

Sophie Medlin

Sophie Medlin is a well-recognised consultant dietitian and is the Chair for the British Dietetic Association for London. Sophie has expertise in gastrointestinal and colorectal health.

She worked in acute hospitals specialising in gastrointestinal diseases before moving into academia, where she worked as a lecturer at King’s College London.

Sophie now directs her company CityDietitians which offers evidence based nutrition to individuals, companies and the media.

We aim to empower 1000 women to ‘climb their mountain’ so that they break down their barriers and reclaim their power. Join us. For more details about how we can help you to ‘climb your mountain’ – check out our free events here.

29 March 202129 March 2021

How fear stops you from being YOU

As International Woman’s month comes to a close, we must continue to celebrate courageous woman around the world – encouraging and inspiring the new generation of women to believe they can achieve bigger and better things every day.

With this being said, we must remember the pioneers that got us to this point. An infamous example would have to be Florence Nightingale; known as the founder of modern nursing.

As the pandemic continues to be fought, I thought I’d learn about one of England’s iconic trailblazers. Nightingale, although being born into to a British upper-class family, her parents disapproved of nursing as her chosen profession. They felt someone of her stature should not take on such a career. This could have gone two ways; Nightingale could have let other people dictate her future, instilling fear and doubt – or – persevere with her passion.

“How very little can be done under the spirit of fear” –Florence Nightingale

Of course, this did not stop determined Nightingale as of the age of 30; she fulfilled her career goal, working in a variety of hospitals in the 1850s. Nightingale successfully went on to organise and lead the group of nurses that helped fallen British soldiers in the Crimean War. Through determination and diligence, the death rate was reduced by two thirds. This gained her a reward from Queen Victoria herself. Nightingale used this reward to create St. Thomas’ Hospital and a training school for aspiring nurses.

We are so fortunate to have had such a strong example of leadership and courage – demonstrating that trying to achieve and taking action is better than not trying at all. Nightingale became the women she was destined to be through trial and error, persistence and tenacity. If it were not for her passion and determination to introduce control, sanitation and structure, the modern nursing world may not have been be the success it is today. Therefore, if Nightingale let fear dictate her life she would have never become the iconic woman she is remembered for today.

So remember: Fear is an obstacle you cannot go; over, past or under. Fear must be faced head on to get through the barriers of restraint so that it may no longer rule your actions.

Our advice would be to do one thing that scares you everyday. With the lockdown restrictions being lifted we now have more freedom to do , so what’s stopping you?

Now, swimming with sharks scares me for sure but regrettably I can’t jet off to the Bahamas every afternoon (thanks COVID 19). Instead focus on the little things that you may avoid day to day and build from there. For example; saying hi to a stranger, catching spiders, driving long distances, using sharp knives, walking over a tall bridge. In time these things will be a part of your routine and will enable you to strive for bigger aims like chasing your career goals and becoming the best you, you can be.

“Live your life while you have it. Life is a splendid gift. But to live your life, you must discipline it.” Florence Nightingale

22 March 202127 July 2021

How Michelle Obama Became

There is the well-known saying – no pain, no gain.

Do you ever feel like the odds are stacked against you? Well in Michelle Obamas case, this was true. Growing up an African American in the 60’s in a small home in Chicago provided to be her first hurdle of many. With her father falling very ill, suffering with Multiple Sclerosis, this pushed Michelle to be a good, ambitious student.

While studying sociology at Princeton University, Michelle then realised “that everyday drain of being in a deep minority.” Living during a time when schools were white male dominated and the difficulty of standing out was prevalent.

“If there is no struggle, there is no progress” – Frederick Douglass

Now; Michelle Obama is a lawyer, writer and the wife of former U.S. President Barack Obama. Prior to her role as first lady, she was a lawyer, Chicago city administrator and community-outreach worker. But how did she get there?

Michelle rose to success through determination and persistence, not letting deterrents such as lack of opportunities affect her and focusing on thriving possibilities and the potential for greatness. Michelle was always captivated with helping others and found that her true calling is working with people to serve their communities. Therefore, when Michelle became the First Lady of The United States she found herself in a position of power and influence.

15 March 202115 March 2021

#ChooseToChallege The World

It is Woman’s History month and this year the theme is #ChooseToChallenge. Throughout history, women have challenged all types of stigma around what we can and cannot do; opening the flood gates for the next generation of women to accomplish a million possibilities. Women have stepped out of the shadow of the man and continue to shine brightly all over the world.

Need some inspiration for how we can celebrate Women’s History Month? Look through our list or click here: https://yourdream.liveyourdream.org/2021/03/15-ways-to-celebrate-womens-history-month/

Our list:

*Follow a recognised feminist online to keep up on current content

*Get familiar with current women’s issues i.e. the pink tax

*Watch films and TV shows directed and produced by women

*Donate to charities that aid women causes

*Amplify the women in your life – encourage them to achieve their best!

During the 1900’s the art world was booming. You would have heard of Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali as even then they were household names – famous for creating outlandish works using their emotions to communicate. During this time women still could not: vote, smoke in public, get divorced, join the military or even wear trousers, let alone have an art career. Meanwhile though, Frida Kahlo was creating artwork after artwork as a result of an unfortunate tram accident, leaving her bedbound. This tragedy left Kahlo with a deep sense of agony and Kahlo needed to tell her story. Through practice and determination Kahlo created many self-portraits expressing her pain; exploring themes of loss, death and selfhood. These themes were already explored by male artists but never before had a woman dissected the emotion and stigma around expressing one’s self.

“Feet, what do I want them for if I have wings to fly?’ – Frida Kahlo

Before Kahlo, women artists were seen as hysterical and condemned insane and men artists as ‘melancholy’. This all slowly unravelled when Kahlo defied gender stereotypes by proudly wearing her facial hair, smoking in public, wearing a suit for a family portrait and having infamous affairs with men and women. Proving that terms should not be thought of as gendered and challenging the idea of what it means to be a woman. Kahlo was unapologetically herself, proving to be a role model of rebelliousness and confidence.

Family Portrait 1924 – Frida Kahlo (centre) aged 17

Kahlo, although bedbound, did not let her illness stop her from being herself. Today Kahlo is up there with the greats, being recognised for dismissing societies standards of what women should and should not be, being the face of trauma support and for discussing the complex aspects of female identity. Kahlo liberated women to challenge what they felt they could do; permitting freedom for women many years to come.

If you want to find out more about the gender defying, feminist icon Frida Kahlo click here – https://www.firstpost.com/living/frida-kahlo-femininity-and-feminism-why-the-painter-is-an-icon-for-so-many-women-3782365.html