Opportunity in the Financial Collapse

I was on a call this week that really inspired me to share an experience I had. It started with hearing a conference that Gina Ratliff's held on the financial collapse our economy and where it has taken her business. What she shared is how the collapse has presented a unique opportunity for wealth to be created in a new way- a way that is more balanced between the masculine and feminine than in the past.

So the way I see it, (barring the gross over-generalization) the masculine way of operating in the business world is to be more direct, action oriented, logical and linear. The feminine way of being includes honoring the intuitive, creative, introspective and non-linear ways of doing things.

Finding ways of working and living that include both of these sides of ourselves is transformative in my experience. Over the past 2 years I have been immersed in this lesson as I've left the corporate and financial world which was very masculine and embarked on building a new career that has been my own to entirely define.

The funny thing was that after that call, I did something that was overly masculine in nature in making a decision. I pushed through a decision even though I didn't feel entirely comfortable with it. The next day, with the help of my good friend Debbie, I realized that I needed a more balanced approach with myself. Parts of me that needed to be heard had been overrun and ignored. I stopped and did something that is more feminine in nature. I meditated and took some time to look inside.

What I discovered was a treasure trove of insights and reminders about what this new way looks like for me.

Here it is:

• My life includes space and time for me - time for self-care, time to breathe
  
• There is no urgency when I get new direction from inside (urgency is from the ego). I simply take the necessary time to get clear and then act from that place
  
• The smallest parts of myself are being cared for and attended to
• My children and husband feel cherished and know they are important to me, they know I have time for them
  
• My life is lived more slowly and is sensuous in nature
• I take time to cultivate my own health, beauty, creativity - whatever is important to me
  
• Rest and Relaxation are planned into my life and utilized
• Rather than forcing/rushing things, I live deliberately and thoughtfully
• I remember that there are always options, choices and many ways of getting to a goal in all circumstances
• I take time to integrate after a big growth spurt (there is space, a pause between things)
• I take time to vision regularly to maintain my connect to my deepest intentions
  
• I speak consciously
  
• I can laugh at myself and my human mistakes
  

I'm sure the list could go on and on, but it felt so great to me to 'see' this new way of living in detail in my life. I also want to acknowledge that I use some very masculine structures to support myself in creating this. I have a tracking sheet with my self-care goals on it, to see if I am following through on my commitments to exercise, meditate, etc. I set time on my calendar to vision, plan and organize each week. Our family has a new schedule of one-on-one dates with our children to help them feel valued and heard in our home. The list could go on, but the point is that the blend of masculine and feminine ways of doing things has a lot to offer.

I celebrate knowing both ways of doing things and embrace the challenge to bring them into my work and personal life in a more grounded way!

PS
Gina is a thriving entreprenuer that works with women to execute their businesses in a suceessful that balances both the masculine and feminine ways of doing things. (You can find out more about her at estherexperience.com). She is fantastic!