6 Amazing Women Share their Story Of Struggles, Success, & Inspiration
by Therese Miu on 18/01/11 at 9:18 am
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For this blogpost, I brought together a room filled with dynamic women entrepreneurs, change-makers, and bold visionaries. I asked these amazing women how they overcame barriers in their life to take action and achieve their dreams. Each women discuss a very clear and defining moment of their lives highlighting personal goals, hopes, experiences, fears, pains, problems, worries, and struggles.
It’s equally exciting and daunting sharing part of your story to the world. Sometimes we seem to think we feel pain and sorrow like no other until we share and empower others through our own life trials, then we realize we are all so much more alike—emotionally than we realize.
Every day people take one step at a time that lead to bold strides and gaining momentum as they go. These women are no exception.
As you read each of their words, be released from non-judgment and embrace each of their story. The key here is to lift the eyes of your heart up off yourself to truly regard another.
Allow yourself to FULLY feel their story.
See their story as your very own. Now with your imagination, allow their stories to open up inside of yourself that wants to bloom and express in the highest creative way. Exaggerate every moment. Really let their experience touch you. Their story is REAL and so is yours.
I wanted to share their story so that you will ALLOW yourself to SHINE this year by every breath, every thought, every step, and ultimately every action.
Find out how they redefined their life to live their creative calling and ultimate purpose!
Crystal Mackay
Crystal Mackay
Website: Oceanmarketinginc.com & mapmelocal.com
What was your struggle in 2010?
Finding myself early this year exhausted “keeping up with the machines” in my business, my relationships and with my being. Learning-with-breakdowns that it is not about worthiness yet willingness; to courageously give and “open up” to everything you think you know, and especially do not know, no matter the state of feeling.
How did you overcome it?
Giving and receiving with the right people. Allowing breath to seep into every action step- and continually choosing “no-label” space when I witness my own limitations, with or without others. I am so very blessed with the loving, supportive co-collaborations that are around me and our team now. Saying YES to celebrating the failures shared or silent, and giving integrity boundaries to relationships that do not honor our shared highest good.
What was your success?
Having lots MORE FUN 
Our “synced” incredible team and a DEEP vibrating heart smile. *♥*
What inspires you?
Opening up anything that seems closed…eh hehe I love to explore and learn to give, receive, open nurturing spaces with others and “be” with me, giving All- all the space to see. hmmmm… YES I AM Infinite! Whether in crazy behind the scenes business convo’s or simply being with a friend for tea.
What do you look forward for in 2011?
Oh my I look forward to so much!!!! well I will just say this- I look forward to finding and “seeing” more entrepreneurs that lead outward- from the core.. giving more support to OUR leaders, and us all as a whole.
Erlina Sinaga
Erlina Sinaga
Website: http://www.flickr.com/photos/linasinaga
What was your struggle in 2010?
2010 is a very difficult year for me, as I came face to face with much life challenges and trials. My stepfather passed away June 2010 while I was in the second to last quarter of nursing school. Death in the family is never easy, and I was really heartbroken from having to lose him because he was the only dad I knew, and it was my first experience of death to someone close to me. I was crushed. My biological dad passed away when I was four-year-old, so I have very vague memory of my first dad. I was blessed with eleven years with my step dad, and in those eleven years was like having a captain in my ship. I enjoyed every moment of having a father in my life. Everything was taken care of for my family, and I was happily living the role of a worry-free youngest child. However, when he passed away, things changed and the role of the captain was suddenly handed to me, yet I have never sail a ship in my life before, nor do I have co-captains to help me out and provide me direction or assistant. My two elder brothers are living across the Pacific, and I am here alone with my mother. I remember feeling in so much despair in thinking how to deal with this grief, how to take care of my mom in her grief, how to take care everything he left behind, how to take care of the household, and how to continue on with my nursing program successfully. The next day after his passing, I remember taking my big test at school, in tears. I was an emotional wreck, with so many things to take care of, and not knowing what to do.
How did you overcome it?
If suddenly you are given little choice and have to sail your ship to safety or die, even if you have never sail a ship before, you will pray a thousand prayers and figure it out quickly because giving up is not an option if it means being stranded in the sea to die. Well, that’s exactly what I did. I learned to sail the ship quickly and said a thousand prayers before each maneuvers. I asked my higher self to commune with God, and simply got down on my knees and looked up to the heaven and said “You are with me in this, right? Because I trust you”. Those were my prayers. I simply let go, and just trusted that everything will be taken care of for me and I will be guided in the right direction and to the solutions that serve my best interest and my mom as well.
What was your success?
In just short six months, I had accepted my step dad’s passing away and dealt with the grief with much completion and gratitude for the time spent, the memories, and having experienced having a father. Even though it was a short eleven years of my adult life, it was simply a blessing. I had been there for my mom from day one in her grieving process of having lost another husband. I had found and helped my mom purchase the perfect home for her new beginning. The first half of my clinical experiences in intensive care unit (ICU) were traumatizing as I ran out of the unit crying when a patient dies for it was too real for me as I had just lost my step dad in that similar setting. However, in my last few clinical I shifted and was able to stay present with my dying patients and their family and connect with them because I know exactly what they were going through, and provide them the best care and compassionately. I will be closing the chapter of my two-year fast track nursing program in less than one week with high grade point average. I had gone through a break up and remained in a loving friend relationship with the person. And most importantly, I have stay grounded and focused and been fully present to people I care the most. Losing someone you love is devastating. But I learned now that role transition that comes along with losing member of a family is simply, rough. I look back now, I am thankful of the expansion process I went through. I am now standing here six months later, of having all prayers answered out of my worries six months ago. My secret weapon is simply to let go and trust. All of my worries are paired up with the perfect solution so effortlessly, and I am beyond grateful and feeling profoundly connected with the higher force that has been watching me and guiding me all this time.
What inspires you?
My ultimate inspiration is my mother. She is my rock and the most loving woman I know. She always deals with life challenges with so much love and grace. When my step dad passed away, she told the family that she has done everything beyond her power to care and love her husband while he still alive. He was under her care for the last six years of living with chronic illness, and she was by his side at every doctor visits, every procedures, every hospital stay, all the ups and downs, through all the tears and all the laughter, and even cooked his every meal deliciously. The love story my parents shared were beyond triumphant, and I truly admire and proud to have witnessed and take part in their journey. Their love dedication to each other was a testimony of true love and acceptance in its purity. She has no regrets and at completion with his passing. And I want to live like her, having no regrets and feel complete and at peace with everything in life, by giving my one hundred percent with love and passion to people I cherish the most, to dreams I wish to manifest, and things that matters to me.
What do you look forward in 2011?
Well, since I now have learned to be the captain of my own ship, I am looking forward to sail a bigger ship, a bigger dream, a bigger vision, with a big trust and faith in my heart. I will be building my career in the health industry, and begin a personal and most cherished project with a few friends that has been placed aside. I am looking forward to live my life passionately, and to be generous with love expression to people I care, because at any given time a loved one should leave again, I want to feel complete just like my mom did with my dad. I am also looking forward to January 6th of my graduation, knowing that I am holding my integrity as I had promised my dad I will complete my school and take care of her angel wife. The sky is the limit, and 2011 will be a year of active creation and celebration, and I will take on my mother’s motto in life, give it one hundred percent and die without regrets. I trust that one day I will be the captain of my beautiful dream boat accompanied by people I love, and sailing it away to an enchanting destination beyond the horizon. Or perhaps, I’m already here. I just want to wish everyone a fulfilling and a magical 2011. Dream, envision, create, love and celebrate. Live with passion and die with no regrets. To living life fully, Erlina Sinaga
Lily Trainor
Lily Trainor
Website: http://www.inspiration4life.es/
Occupation: I’m a mother. A Lifecoach. A guide. I help people lead better, happier, more fulfilling lives.
I’ve been on my own journey of self discovery. And in many ways, I’m still on it.
The fact that we can do anything we put our minds to.
What was your struggle in 2010?
Time management and Scheduling. Getting things done brings such a great feeling of accomplishment, but it can also be overwhelming if the task seems insurmountable. Sometimes, the days just don’t seem long enough to do everything we want to do. When that happens, worry can set in, but it doesn’t have to! You can do more than you ever thought was possible, and in less time too, giving yourself time to relax and really enjoy life! It all begins with a solid foundation of time management and scheduling. It’s okay if you’re not a good time manager right now, you can learn to be. It just takes a little bit of practice and you’ll soon be getting more and more done.
How did you overcome it?
These scheduling strategies have helped me become an expert manager of my time:
Schedule my life for maximum benefit. I can avoid procrastination and the big stressed-out rush to meet a deadline by scheduling each day and using just a bit of self-discipline to stick to my schedule. It helps to break things down into smaller tasks. Working for just a half hour each day can help me get that presentation done with plenty of time to spare. By scheduling my day according to my priorities, I can better utilize the time that I might otherwise have wasted doing unproductive things, like waiting for the next item on my to-do list to come to me.
What was your success?
I have fulfilled the role in the raising of my three daughters. I’ve learnt to understand their temperament, the way they act and behave, discovered their learning style, taught them to pray and talking to God is as natural as talking to their friends. I have invested my relationship with my children and take time to actively listen. The most important of all, I’ve captured my children’s imagination. For me, there is no relationship as pure as the relationship of a mother and child. My children bring joy, love and countless gifts to my live and I feel there is no deeper bond than that between myself and my daughters. I have been blessed with my own wisdom, understanding and experiences which I put to good use to achieve my goals. I have chosen the path which leads me to inner peace and self-respect. I make a difference by a little kindness instead of expectations of others. I put all my energy into bringing about changes in my life. I make this a daily discipline and remind myself of the possibilities of newness that I and only I can create in my life.
What inspires you?
Peace of mind and happiness – on a daily basis – for myself and helping those who want the same. Laughter. And genuine sincere friendships. For me, there’s nothing quite like it on earth! And of course… family!
What do you look forward for in 2011?
Learn to become more aware of myself, for example to love, grow with this in mind and through this I will feel awareness. Keep creating new things for myself, bringing in love, passion, romance, humor, into my live. I want to see the glory in everything I experience even if it means for me to experience tragedy or sadness to reach this wonderful stage… Life is a celebration…
Sandy Flores Winston
Sandy Flores Winston
Website: http://www.mexicanfamilyrecipes.blogspot.com/
Occupation: Visual Artist and Teacher
What was your struggle in 2010?
My struggle this year was learning to be on my own and slowly re-discovering myself after leaving an unhealthy marriage. Staying positive and optimistic was sometimes a challenge.
How did you overcome it?
The support and positivity of my friends and family helped me along the rough road. Reading and listening to empowering books and audio helped me to cope with debilitating feelings.
What was your success?
My successes this year includes discovering my artistic focus, reconnecting and building meaningful relationships with friends and family. I’m slowly gaining more confidence to march forward.
What inspires you?
As cliché as it sounds, life and the universe inspires me. Life never ceases to amaze me! I am also inspired by my friends and family members who are driven and never stop reaching for new heights. And most of all, I am inspired by people who are not afraid to express themselves and who love to play in this earthly playground.
What do you look forward for in 2011?
2011, I am looking forward to new personal, artistic, and professional ventures, to traveling, and to helping and giving to others like never before.
Thérèse Cator
Thérèse Cator
Website: http://theresecator.com
What was your struggle in 2010?
I would have to say the greatest challenge I faced last year 2010 was the earthquake in Haiti. I had many family members including my dad there and I didn’t know if they were safe.
How did you overcome it?
Along with my amazing friends and family who were incredibly supportive I overcame it through faith, meditating and prayer. I was doing affirmations all day long and visualizing safety for my relatives and everyone else in Haiti. Miraculously all my relatives survived and were unharmed. This experience made me realize even more the immense gift that life is, and what truly matters are the people you love.
What was your success?
I would say that my greatest success was all the steps of faith I took this year. One of them was launching a successful social media consulting business full time. Doing this has allowed me to set my own hours and have the flexibility to see my family more often. That has been a true blessing for me.
What inspires you?
My answer is what can’t inspire me? I find inspiration in everything. Tops on my list are art, films, theater, the ocean, flowers and children. Also, attending theater school helped me appreciate everything on an even deeper level. We had to lots of exercises involving opening up the senses and being very present. We did exercises like spending quiet time in nature and listening, eat consciously (meaning without music, television or talking), and going out into the world as a person with disabilities. All these experiences made me realize my connection to all people and things. We are more alike than we think.
What do you look forward for in 2011?
I’m looking forward to sharing the film I directed, wrote and starred in with the world. It’s entitled Click (www.clickthefilm.com/trailer) and it’s a very simple yet profound story of a young woman in New York City. The film has been in several film festivals throughout the United States but now it’s time to show it to a broader audience by using the internet. Plus there’s a specific reason why I’ve made the decision to show the film online this year, but I can’t say any more than that because it’s a huge spoiler. Stay tuned!
I’m also looking forward to launching another project I’ve been working on with Therese Miu for many months!!! It’s called Sugar Crush Bakeshop and we’re going to make social media edible, sweet and simple.
What are your intentions?
My intention for 2011 is to keep it simple, focus on what really matters, count my blessings, and leave the how up to God. After years of trial and error I found that when I did this everything turned out just fine. And one more thing have fun in everything I do!
Tina Su
Website: http://thinksimplenow.com
What was your struggle in 2010?
There were so many, but the most prominent was overcoming post-partum depression
How did you overcome it?
I’ve detailed it in a lengthy article here:
http://thinksimplenow.com/depression/feeling-depressed/
What was your success?
Again, there were many. Some successes off the top of my head are:
* Overcoming the above struggle
* Learning that I can forgive anyone. Forgiveness takes place in our own hearts, and sets us free.
* Winning the Good Mood Blogger contest
* Recognizing that I have within me the key to lasting happiness. Problems will always be there, it is how we choose to view the external events outside of us that determines how we feel.
What inspires you?
People who are doing what they feel inspired to do, and inspirational books they produce.
What do you look forward for in 2011?
Following in my heart and doing what I feel inspired to do in my creative ventures.
THANK YOU Crystal, Erlina, Lily, Sandy, Thérèse, & Tina for delivering a stream of incredible insights and new action!
I’m inspired by what’s possible for all of us this 2011
I can’t wait to create a dynamic backdrop for connections to be made and real inspiration to ignite!
THANKS TO ALL MY READERS & SUBSCRIBERS HERE!
This year remind yourself consistently to live fully and abundantly in all domains of life
Be aware of the richness of life and see the power in becoming the highest expression of yourself.
Remember:
- Know that you can master anything if you do it enough times
- Relax and have fun no matter what the outcome may be.
- Celebrate each step you make
- Be open to receive assistance from th Universe
- With a solid plan and belief in yourself, there’s nothing you cannot do
- Be open to the flow of great abundance in all areas of your life
- You do not need to to know the entire journey in order to take one step
- Be Grateful for the support and abundance which you will receive
- Prosperity surrounds you, prosperity fills you, prosperity flows to you and through you
Best to you and your dreams, goals, hopes, and aspirations for 2011 and beyond!
CHEERS to higher creativity, passion, collaboration, community & success
Chris Kilber
