S2 Ep 23: Taking Life On As A Beautiful Warrior

You will never face a day without some sort of challenge in it.

In fact, this is what tires us out, overcomes us and causes us to drop out of the race.

According to the Collins English Dictionary: A challenge is something new and difficult which requires great effort and determination.

Something new. Something a day brings that is unexpected. A surprise. 

Now these can be both good surprises and not so good surprises.

•  A challenge may be the surprise of a promotion and suddenly finding yourself wondering if you really have what it takes. You know it’s going to require great effort and determination.
•  A challenge may be getting up out of bed in the morning on time. One of my greatest for most of my life, I must admit. It’s a new challenge every morning. And, also, something that requires great effort and determination.

 It’s when you’re being challenged that you need to find that side of you that won’t back down.

The side of you that looks life right in the eye…head up, shoulders back, even if you don’t have a clue what your next move is going to be.

Whenever I’m stuck in my own life, I go to find someone else who has faced a challenge even bigger than I’m facing and search out how they overcame their own. Then I try to learn from that.

It’s amazing what people can get through. And what they can teach us without even knowing it.

Serena Williams is a shining star of resilience and strength. 

One of the greatest tennis players of all time, when it comes to challenges, she is an expert.

Despite facing racism, sexism, and body-shaming comments from critics, she has continued to dominate on the court while advocating for equal pay and opportunities for women in sports.

Serena has shown us how to have unwavering determination in the face of adversity, how to refuse to let what life throws at us define us or limit our potential. 

She’s a perfect example of the Big Picture of life I’m always referencing. She’s an individual, a heart, walking on her path of life doing what she has chosen to do, what she’s meant to do.  

Then the challenges come - hard and fast. Something new and difficult which requires, in response, great effort and determination. 

Bombs going off in her life. Boulders dropping on her out of the blue. Rocks of shame and expectations that others have thrown at her. 

But she has let none of these stop her.

Serena has used her experiences as a Black woman in a predominantly white and male-dominated sport to fuel her passion and drive for excellence. 

Her life says clearly that, with hard work, perseverance, and self-belief, anything is possible. 

I have to ask this - What does your life say?

By focusing on her game and using her platform to advocate for change, Serena Williams has become a Beautiful Warrior – a powerful force for good who is unafraid to stand up for what she believes in. 

She has an unstoppable belief in who she is.

It’s not just in being famous and on the tennis courts that this approach to life matters.It matters to all of us. Every day.

As a Life Coach, I often see everyday women like you struggling with the challenges when life takes an unexpected turn. Very few of us respond by finding our strengths and focusing there. 

Becoming a Woman on a Mission should really read as, “Taking Life on as a Beautiful Warrior”. 

This is the identity I believe in.

What does a Beautiful Warrior look like?

Think Serena Williams. Oprah Winfrey. Maya Angelou.

Think the women you absolutely adore and respect in your own life because they are both soft AND strong.

Think YOU. Are you committed to learning how to live your life like this?

Let’s look at  the qualities you’ll find yourself growing as you face it from the side of you that is the Beautiful Warrior:

The Beautiful Warrior is not invincible; she is human. 

 You will have the courage to be vulnerable and to take risks, even if it means failing. 

You will know that your strength lies in your ability to learn from your mistakes and to use them as fuel to become better, richer, wiser, deeper. 

Your spirit will be unstoppable, and you will never give up on yourself or the goals you have set for yourself.

The Beautiful Warrior has the power to recognize her own worth 

 You will know who you are and won’t be afraid to let your true self shine through in everything you do. 

Whether it's in your personal life, your career, or the causes you are passionate about, you will approach every situation with honesty, integrity, and a deep sense of purpose.

By standing up for what you believe in and living from a place of truth, you’ll become a beacon of hope and inspiration for others. 

Your courage will inspire countless individuals to embrace their own unique identities and stand up for what they believe in. 

This creates a ripple effect of positive change that extends far beyond yourself.

The Beautiful Warrior is also unafraid of taking risks and embracing change. 

You will know that in order to reach your full potential, you must be willing to try new things and explore unfamiliar paths. 

You will never stop learning and growing, and you will be open to new perspectives and experiences.

You will understand that life is full of unknowns, and you will welcome each challenge with a sense of curiosity and optimism. 

You will know that the best way to grow is to push your boundaries and take risks, even when it’s scary.

The Beautiful Warrior chooses to be kind and compassionate. 

 You will know that it’s important to be kind, no matter the circumstances. You will lead by example, offering your kindness and compassion to those in need. 

You will understand that kindness can come in many forms, from comforting words to a helping hand. You will know that even the smallest acts of kindness can make a big difference in someone’s life. 

Your compassion and understanding will be contagious, and they will radiate outwards, inspiring those around you.

The Beautiful Warrior is mindful of her thoughts and words. 

You will know that negative thoughts and self-doubt can be damaging, so you will make sure to fill your mind with positive, empowering affirmations. 

You will encourage yourself and others to replace negative thoughts with kinder, more empowering ones. I’m going to show you how.

You will understand that the words we use have power, and you will take care to speak kindly of yourself and those around you. 

With this kind of attitude, you will be able to stay focused on your own goals, living a life of joy and fulfillment.

The Beautiful Warrior believes that, even in our darkest moments, we have the power to choose how we respond. 

You will know that the most difficult times can be an opportunity to learn and grow, and you will use your resilience and strengths to find the light in every situation. 

You will understand that our reactions to life’s challenges determine how we progress, and you will choose courage over fear and hope over despair. 

By doing so, you show those you love that no matter what life throws our way, we can choose to remain strong and resilient.

Life will challenge you in this midlife season. Your decision is how you will respond.

You’ll face discrimination related to your age or race or ability.

You’ll face body breakdowns.

You’ll face forgetfulness and brain fog and sleeping difficulties.

You’ll face loneliness and feeling useless, anxiety and depression. 

You’ll face feeling left behind by co-workers, by your romantic partner, by friends.

You’ll face juggling multiple roles and expectations like being a caregiver to your parents, being an attentive partner, a wise parent of adult children and an employee all at the same time.

So who will you be when the bomb goes off and turns your world upside down?

Who will you be when a boulder drops on you out of the blue because your finances are in tatters?

Who will you be when someone you love throws those rocks at you, telling you that you’re not enough? 

I want you to know that your response to the challenges has nothing to do with the situation you find yourself in. 

It has everything to do with who you’ve decided you will be in the face of life’s challenges.

The Warrior? Or the Victim?

Imagine building the resilience and strength of a Beautiful Warrior.

Imagine not being afraid of being afraid because you know you’ll find a way to live with the bomb, get out from under the boulder and not let the sting of the rocks coming your way go further than the surface.

Imagine feeling calm in the face of challenge. Thinking strengthening thoughts. Feeling at peace. And taking action from that place.

Over the next few podcasts, we’re going to go more in-depth into the qualities of a Beautiful Warrior and how you can grow them into your own life. How you can become a Woman on a Mission.

As a result, like Serena Williams, you will shut out the darkness and just focus on the light that YOU are meant to bring to the world.