The 8th of March celebrates the global recognition of International Women’s Day. Founded on the principles of equality, solidarity and change, this day marks the acknowledgement of female achievement and influence throughout history and the celebration of the continued invaluable contributions to social, economic, cultural and political issues they make around the world today.
 
For over a century the call for action to overcome restrictions and limitations placed on women has been championed by inspirational activists from all walks of life. They have tirelessly campaigned, marched and at times even lost their lives in the name of women’s rights. However, in the world today over 30 million girls of primary school age are still denied an education and over 15 million are forced into child marriage before the age of eighteen. Many are subjected to female genital mutilation and around 70, 000 young brides die every year as their still developing bodies fail under the pressures of pregnancy and childbirth.
 
Despite so many advancements in the fight for women’s rights there remains a huge number that are still denied a voice. Now is the time to be that voice for them. Stand up for those that are still being forced down, speak out for those that are still silenced and join with a global community on International Women’s day to #BeBoldForChange.  

How to find the mindset for change....

​Let’s be real right now, motivation can be a slippery little creature to keep your hands on. One minute it can feel like a huge beast dragging you along behind it and the next like a tiny flea flitting about and leaving a constant itch that you just can’t seem to scratch. With those kinds of continual changes it’s no wonder that from time to time we all feel as if we have lost our motivation and the search to find it again can seem like an epic journey. 

​That’s why I want to give you the heads up on a couple of obstacles you might meet along the way and my tips for helping to overcome them on your journey to motivation.

First up the wall, it’s here that your mindset starts handing out the old limiting beliefs. You know the classic ‘you can’t do that because…’. These negative thoughts and perceived ideas of impending failure can stack up pretty quickly and create a wall in front of you that seems immovable and solid, with no way of going round it, over it or under it your hunt for motivation can look like it’s over before it ever really got started.  
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​Good news though, this wall is not as impenetrable as it first appears. If you look closely you will find that this giant barrier is actually made up of much smaller blocks that can be chipped away at one by one. Each brick is a thought or issue that needs to be overcome but as you start to look at it one piece at a time you will be surprised how easy it becomes to tear that wall down and leave your self-doubt in a pile of rubble beneath it

You have your mindset sorted but you now need to address your goals for this journey. While you’re searching for motivation your end goal can often appear to be perched on the top of a shear faced peak that is virtually unreachable. Standing at the base camp of your goal mountain the immense climb before you may look impossible. The road ahead is too challenging and you can start to feel defeated before you even begin.
 
But look a little closer and you will see there are resting stops along the way, you don’t need to reach the mountain top all in one day. Break the ascent up into manageable chunks that you can work toward one step at a time. There is no denying the climb will be difficult but if you split your journey into much more achievable mini goals you will remove the crushing pressure for instant results and allow yourself the ability to look around and enjoy the view on your way up

On the other side of the mountain the quest for motivation continues. It is at this point you come toe to toe with the force of that river they call Perseverance. It’s true that sometimes the river flows smoothly but when motivation is eluding you the current can become rough and it is all too easy to be swept away in the opposite direction to where you need to go. There is often no boat or raft to be found and the struggle upstream can feel relentless.
 
However, there is always a way through. You have the choice to surround yourself with people that can help you on your journey. Forget about the haters and the doubters that laugh at the person without a boat. Instead find encouragement from the friend that offers to build one with you. Even in uncertain water look for the positive and hang on tight because eventually the storm will pass

Written by Jade Fraser-McKendry
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#Motivation | #Mindset | #Positivity | #Therapyinthecity