9 Ways to Embody Sisterhood (and Help Each Other Shine)

Every chance I get I affirm other women. I attend other author’s book signings, activist friend’s new program launches, I cheer on my mentees and friends when they go for a stretch role at work, create a new community initiative or nonprofit or bring a new soul into the world. As I get older, I believe there is nothing more important than affirming my sisters, especially now!  

Growing up, I don’t recall being around women who modeled true “sisterhood” for me. But, when I was in my late twenties, I took a leadership course with Margaret, a woman who ended up being a life-long mentor to me. She modeled some beautiful ways to “be,” in the world, but most importantly, she challenged me to stop playing small and held a huge space for me to blossom into the fullest expression of who I am. Slowly, over the years, I learned to do this. Not alone, but with many incredible women by my side.

Today, as a wife, mother, leader, business owner, mentor and community activist, moving in the world with the support of my sisters is the only way I know how to be. What does sisterhood mean to me? It’s a way of being with other women—both young and old—where I:

• Hold the highest and best for them and see them as their “future selves”—especially when they’re going through a rough time.
• Encourage vulnerability and authenticity in our communication; invite my sisters to “come as you are.”
• Practice self-forgiveness and have the humility and courage to initiate tough, but necessary conversations; and, lovingly acknowledge what’s not being said or seen—even at the cost of having someone not like me.
• Derive joy and exhilaration from sharing my sisters’ wisdom and gifts with others and delight in seeing them shine big and bright!
• State my needs and ask them on a regular basis, “How can I support you?” and really mean it!
• Freely share my successes and never shrink or dim my presence when I’m with others.
• Enjoy reciprocity—giving and receiving—and serving my sisters in a way that “feeds me rather than drains me.”
• Encourage emotional intimacy—with a chosen few—and model what it looks like to show up “warts and all.”
• Honor my sisters’ innate worthiness and remind them that “their ordinary self is enough.”

One time I led a week-long self-renewal retreat for women in New York and heard—as I often do at our retreats—“I was so amazed at how comfortable I felt in this group; how quickly we dropped into authentic, heartfelt conversation; how healing it was to have dialogue with such depth; and how powerful it was to be with other women and to feel so supported.” I also heard, “I have never experienced anything like this; I didn’t even know being with other women in this way was possible!”

I took these powerful words to heart. For many, this is a new way of being with other women. It’s a courageous path that requires us to practice extreme self-care and fully show up willing to be both seen and heard. When I help my sisters shine, we all shine. Shine on sisters. Shine on.

• An Exercise ~ Sisterhood: Your Journey  Grab a notebook/pen, a mug of tea and reflect on the following:
  -What does sisterhood mean to me? Who in my life models this for me?
  -Do I have women in my life that provide a soft place to fall and allow me to show up “warts and all?”
  -What would it feel like to interact with other women in a more vulnerable, authentic way?
  -What do I perceive as barriers to experiencing a deeper sense of sisterhood in my own life?

Let me know how it goes. I’d love to hear from you.  With kindness ~ 

FOUR OPPORTUNITIES TO FIND YOUR CENTER:

• *ALMOST SOLD OUT!* Spring Equinox Weekend, March 20-22nd ~ Awakening Your Wild Soul: Women’s Self-Renewal Retreat at 1440 Multiversity in the CA redwoods (photo above) ~ an embodied spirituality retreat filled with joyful song, pleasureful movement and deep rest with the 1,000 year-old trees; learn more/ register.
• Want support for facilitating women’s groups/retreats? Check out Secrets to Facilitating Life-Changing Women’s Groups/Retreats ~ an online, self-paced training & mentoring course. Only $195. Learn more/enroll here.
• *Available for a limited time* ~ Solace: A Deep Rest Virtual Retreat ~ Craving rest and renewal? Download this 2.5 hour meditative virtual retreat 24/7 from the comfort of your home. Enjoy community + support from Renee. Includes a Yoga Nidra session. View this offering and all our online retreats here (starting at $49). 
• Live in the Southeast or near North Carolina? Join me in the NC Blue Ridge Mountains for a Wild Souls Adventure: authentic movement classes, community song circles, full moon hikes, meditation/resiliency workshops, women’s circles & more or have me design a custom experience/ritual for your team/friends: learn more. Join us Sunday, March 29th for our next public Wild Souls Authentic Movement class in Brevard, NC; learn more here.