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International Women’s Day is this Wednesday, March 8th and the theme is Be Bold For Change.
The challenge this year is to get involved, be BOLD by reaching a little beyond your comfort level through purposeful collaboration to raise awareness and drive positive change for women everywhere.
This is a truly inspiring goal and one that is especially well suited to women who are inherently willing to give their resources, time and energy for the well-being of others.
So, what does it mean to be bold?
The Beauty of a Bold Woman
Boldness is fundamentally about confidence and courage. Bold women come in all shapes, sizes, and ages, from different backgrounds and cultures. A bold woman is clear about who she is, what she wants and where she is headed in life and she is not afraid to stand up for her beliefs.
There are many such women whom I admire for their strength and grace, and because when stuff goes wrong, as it often does, they HANDLE it. They handle it in a thousand different ways on a thousand different days, but they boldly handle it even as they make time to care for and nurture others.
Nothing is sweeter than being unapologetically you. Don’t live your life just to impress others. Reveal your truth, express your love, boldly live your dreams. ~Amaka Nkosazana
Accepting the Challenge to be Bold
Following are a few of the characteristics of the unapologetically bold. It’s worth clarifying that boldness is not about how outgoing you are, an Introvert can be just as bold Extrovert, and you may well be bold in some areas of your life and not in others.
It’s much more about having the courage to be true to yourself.
They are Authentic
They don’t pretend to be something or someone they aren’t. They face and embrace their fears and aren’t afraid to go against the crowd if it means being true to themselves.
They Learn From Failure
Rather than an end, they see failure as an opportunity for growth and understand that the only reason to be ashamed of failure is when you don’t learn from the experience.
They Speak Up
They aren’t afraid to express their opinion or take a stand. They believe in the importance of living true to their values and highest life priorities.
They Take Action
They know when to stop planning and analyzing and take the first step because they recognize that all of that wonderful wisdom and knowledge they’ve accumulated isn’t worth much if they never do anything with it.
They Take Risks
They understand there is a huge difference between taking a calculated risk and being careless and are willing to challenge themselves to learn and adjust as they go. Most importantly they aren’t afraid to ask for support.
They Build Trust
They realize the commitments they make to themselves are as important as those they make to other people so they do what they say they’re going to do.
They Expect the Best
Those with a bold mindset expect to succeed, maybe not easily or quickly, but they believe in their ability to make things happen.
They Prioritize Self-Care
Bold women recognize the importance of building a healthy personal foundation. That rather than being selfish, nurturing their own well-being provides them with the energy and resources they need to live a full life.
They Are Lifelong Learners
They are always seeking to learn and expand their capacity as they develop skills and behaviors that enable them to grow and experience all that life has to offer.
They Are Persistent
Those who are bold rarely give up, but they recognize that doesn’t mean doing the same thing over and over. They learn as they go, brainstorm solutions and are willing to experiment and embrace the opportunities that often come from unexpected detours.
How about you? How do you define boldness in your own life? How can you answer the challenge to Be Bold For Change?
Here’s to bold women, may we know them, may we be them, may we raise them!
Related reading …
- Are You Burying Your Light Behind a Mask of Modesty?
- What it Means to OWN Your Life
- Women Breaking Barriers
About Marquita Herald
Marquita is an author, resilience coach and the chief evangelist at Emotionally Resilient Living. She’s also an unapologetic workaholic who loves red wine, rock n’ roll, road trips (and car dancing!), peanut butter cookies and (especially) a dog named Lucy.
She’s saddened and frustrated by excuses and cruelty and believes authentic compassion is the most powerful force in the world.
To learn more about Marquita and the mission of Emotionally Resilient Living click “here“.
Twitter: lydiajbrown
says:
This was fun to read. My friends and family call me bold and you know when I lived in NY many loved me for it. However, when I moved to the South being bold was not appreciated. In some circles, it was because I am African American and in others, it was because I am a woman. I grew up being a hidden person I love the day I became a bold woman who accepts challenges and encourages other women to be Bold and Phenomenal. Bold for me means not being afraid to be different, and not afraid to not only have opinions but not afraid to share them in an appropriate way.
Twitter: joantruesuccess
says:
YES! Being bold is all about just getting out there and sharing the best you that you can in whatever way you can without ever worrying about what anyone thinks! Loved this post Marquita 🙂
Being bold is beautiful!
Joan M Harrington recently posted…Here’s How To Write Sales-Boosting Bullet Points In Your Copy
Twitter: JoyceHansen
says:
We had so many terms to describe women as world events are changing their lives. As Goldilocks would say, “this one is just right.” Thanks for being our Goldilocks, Marquita.
Joyce Hansen recently posted…How to benefit from a priority to-do-list
What an awesome compliment! Thank you Joyce for your kind words and for taking the time to contribute to the conversation. 🙂
Twitter: dreamtripscda
says:
Thank you for sharing. I will say most of us this is a check list and it say it all for me and most of the women i meet in business networks. One of the groups is named that “Bold Beautiful and in Business” good combination. I think it all has to fit. “Here’s to bold women, may we know them, may we be them, may we raise them!” Happy international womens day!!!
Twitter: learn_to_blog
says:
Goodness, that list sounds just like me!! I actually do see myself as bold and I know all the things on your list are attributes I recognize both in myself and in friends I have.
Enjoy the journey!
Twitter: dexterroona
says:
I don’t really consider myself bold though I do fall into quite a few of your subtitles… i must be bolder than i think 😉
Dexterroona recently posted…What are Nofollow and Dofollow links?
Twitter: sush_t27
says:
Thank you for this awesome post dear!
I love being uniquely myself and being bold in my own way.
Belated wishes, but still wishing we all Bold & Brave women Happy Women’s day!
Glad to meet you all helping and inspiring me to grow as well as express myself.
Thank you for being there for me as well as for all of us together!
Sushmita recently posted…Get the guide to Maintaining your Blog Site!
Twitter: naturalorganic7
says:
Great Blog! Grateful to have found it! Love it! A Fan here. Belated Happy Int’l Women out there! All my beliefs & stance of being & becoming a strong woman – being Bold – are all well written & are presented here beautifully! Cheers to all the Bold women out there! Cheers everyone! #beboldforchange
Twitter: ruthieisms
says:
I never really thought of myself as bold. Growing up, being bold was not considered a good thing. I can hear my mother now telling me to “stop being bold and act like a lady.” It was a hard thing to do! Thanks, Marquita for showing how being bold can be a good thing!
Ruth Bowers recently posted…[Friday Five] Five Tips for Building Confidence in Your Content
Twitter: KathleenKanavos
says:
Marquita, I love the idea of women and boldness. To me it is all about standing in your power and speaking your truth. We may have a softer voice but at times we must find our Roar and use it- with love. Great blog!
Twitter: suziecheel
says:
Love this post Marty, I see myself as a bold women and your what it means to be bold points I embrace and maybe will take note of some I maybe give lip service to xx
Suzie Cheel recently posted…Do You Find it Easy To Receive Love?
Twitter: bolaakande
says:
I’m definitely bold and keep to my beliefs but sometimes unsure about decisions. But on the whole, I’m a risk taker and love inspiring women. Happy International Women’s Day!
I agree Bola! Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts with us. Always appreciated. 🙂
Twitter: MarketingKM
says:
Hi Marquita,
I like the word “bold” synonyms that I like are adventurous, courageous, fearless, enterprising, daring. All about your behavior. Great article on what it means to be bold. I do embody these traits to some degree. Happy belated Woman’s Day!
Kathryn Maclean recently posted…WordPress or Squarespace which is best for a New Blog?
Great words to live by Kathryn, although I personally prefer the term “imperfectly fearless” because I think it’s important for people to understand that fear is a natural part of being human and striving to be completely without fear can quickly become yet another internal barrier.
Twitter: karmically
says:
I’ve been told I’m bold by friends and colleagues, Marquita, and always in the nicest way possible, Coming from a generation where we were breaking glass ceilings to help future women professionals have an easier path makes any of us who joined the men-dominated professions at that time brave and bold.
I give my parents full credit for supporting my sister and me to become our own people.
Belated International Women’s Day!
Vatsala Shukla recently posted…Is It Time for Me to find another Job?
I definitely think of you as a bold woman Vatsala! I love your stories and the example you set with the advice you offer in your blog. You were definitely blessed to have supportive parents! Not everyone is as lucky, but anyone can grow up to become bold if they are willing to do the work. 🙂
Twitter: cheryschmidt
says:
Hello Marty! What it means to be bold? You said it all very well my friend!
Awesome post as always,
Happy B-Lated Womens Day.
Chery :))
Chery Schmidt recently posted…A Free Gift To Help You Reach Success Online
Thanks for stopping by Chery.
Twitter: preppernut
says:
Hi Marquita. I consider myself a pretty bold woman. I’ve pretty much done what I have wanted to do in my life. I think the only time I was running scared was when I was teaching school. LOL
Between vicious middle school kids and horrible principals, I was pretty much a wreck. And you wouldn’t believe how many stories I heard from colleagues about other music teachers who had nervous breakdowns! So I guess I was bold to walk away after getting two college degrees in my subject.
It is good to be bold, rather than living life like a scared rabbit. Definitely! Thanks for your insight on this subject.
DeeDee Lynn recently posted…March Prepper Madness Month: LUCI Solar Air Lantern
While I’ve never been a teacher myself, two of my closest friends taught high school and my sister was a teacher’s aid in middle school. They all shared their war stories with me and for that reason, I can fully appreciate your decision to walk away! I agree with your last point, it really is good to be bold. 🙂
Twitter: JulieGorges
says:
I always thought of bold as brave, outspoken and fearless, which I don’t always picture myself that way. But reading your article made me view the word differently. I do possess quite a few of those qualities. Feeling bolder now thanks to you!
So glad to help Julie!
Good point that it takes a certain boldness to be uniquely yourself. That can take courage, especially when it goes outside of perceived expectations. And yes, we should all be lifelong learners. When you think you know it all, you’ve put yourself in a place of ignorance and stalled growth.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Erica, always appreciated. 🙂
Twitter: TuhinDeshamukhy
says:
Yes, I agree to all the points here. It takes a combination of traits to be bold and beautiful. These days we get to see a lot of misleading examples of boldness in TV and advertisements.
Somewhere amidst the materialistic lifestyle, the real definition is getting lost.
Thanks for writing this!
Beautifully said Tuhin!
Twitter: LifeWiseLady
says:
Being persistent and taking risks are my two takeaways from your post. Consistency is king (or queen) in this case. I want women to take more risks in their businesses and personal lives. The world would be an even better place if they did.
Jen Monks recently posted…Overworked and Underpaid? 9 Free Apps to the Rescue
I couldn’t agree more with you Jen. There are so many wonderful ideas and dreams out there just gathering dust as people wait for the right time or to feel they are ready. There are just some things you’ll never feel ready for, you just have to dive in and learn to fly as you go!
Twitter: rachellavern
says:
Hi Marquita,
I am very bold in my personal life and need to bring more of that boldness into my business. I have learned that authenticity speeds our success. The path that led me to do what I’m doing right now was not always pretty and it likely wasn’t for any of us. But it’s exactly those messy moments and experiences that we need to share. That is what makes our message incredibly powerful.
Rachel Lavern recently posted…Women are Amazing
I certainly think of you as a bold woman Rachel, and you bring up a good point that I plan to talk about in the near future … the importance of sharing our stories. This was something that came up in my recent collaboration project, Women Breaking Barriers. Sharing our stories not only helps us in many ways, it benefits others as well. I think more people would do it if they knew how or had a means to share and I’m hoping to find a way to provide that in the near future. Thanks for stopping by!
Twitter: taiwoemayosan
says:
Hi Marquita,
This is an excellent post,
The points you raised in this post don’t only apply to women alone, but for everyone who wants to make a difference. Thanks for sharing.
Taiwo Emayosanlomo recently posted…The Poverty of the Rich
Thank you Taiwo, I’m glad that you found value in the article. 🙂
Twitter: WRusho
says:
Very nice post for International Women’s Day.
I hope that someday the world will become more equal for all. Thanks for sharing this on this day.
Well said William!
Twitter: coach2coachguy
says:
Bold or not M, this is some awesome content!
As I was reading and contemplating your excellent
list of suggestions.
It occurs to, they can and do apply to anyone, thank goodness!LOL!
Because applying your suggestions, will definitely improve the quality of anyone-s life.
Thanks for bringing “International Womens Day”, and all the possibilities which go with it.
Mark recently posted…What If Your Major Competitor Decides To Implement This Proven Marketing Strategy First!
Good point Mark, and you are so right. In fact, the characteristics I listed also apply to those who are highly resilient. 🙂 Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with us. Always appreciated my friend. 🙂
Twitter: wizardofwords
says:
Great post, Marty. I love bold women. In fact, nearly all of my friends are bold and self-confident women who know what they want and how to get it. Life is too short to live in self-doubt.
Doreen Pendgracs recently posted…Fairfield Inn Winnipeg Airport Hotel
I’m not at all surprised to hear that Doreen because you are surely a bold woman in my book! Thanks for sharing your thoughts, always appreciated.
Twitter: RoseMGriffith
says:
I agree with your reply to Phoenicia, Marquita. I try to surround myself with as many bold women as possible and that includes the bloggers I follow–which includes you two. Honesty is boldness and you both operate as honest and true. Bravo!
I’m bold in some areas and not so much in others, but this post inspired me to write a mid-week blog for tomorrow on a topic that’s been bugging me. Maybe that will be seen as bold…we’ll see.
RoseMary Griffith recently posted…In The Moment, Hiking Hawaiian Lava Fields
You brought up a good point RoseMary, and that is about surrounding ourselves with like-minded people who are positive and supportive. That really makes a big difference! I look forward to reading your mid-week blog post. 🙂
Twitter: PhoeniciaO
says:
Happy International Women’s Day in advance!
Hmmm do I see myself as bold? Definitely not all of the time. I stand strong in my beliefs and am quite happy to walk alone and have done so for most of my life.
I push forward right up until to the last point. I am determined and know what I want from life. At times I am passive and tend to be more reflective giving much thought before speaking.
I am an introvert and have accepted this.
PhoeniciaO recently posted…The downfalls of being a perfectionist
I would definitely call you BOLD Phoenicia! Being bold has nothing to do with how demonstrative or socially outgoing you are, it’s about your behavior on a day to day basis, and knowing a bit about your story and background I’d say you are one strong woman!