This piece was originally written for, and appeared on, the Loving Earth website.

On an autumn morning in May, 500 women gathered at Melbourne Convention Centre to be inspired, to be uplifted, but above all to connect. Welcome to Women Leading Change.

As Seane Corn, American Yogi Extraordinaire, opened the day, she spoke of separation and how it is on all of us to close the gap. The bar was set high as she spoke about her own personal journey, including her time in New York clubs and meeting one man in particular who bestowed this slice of advice which pretty much encapsulated the ethos of Wake Up Project’s tour…

“Ignore the stories, see the soul. Remember to love. You will never regret it”.

With not a dry eye in the house, the tone was set. One of heart cracking honesty, strength, wild resilience and true feminine beauty.

Janine Shepherd, the former cross-country skier, who, after a life changing accident left her with a broken neck and back, as well as a host of other devastating injuries, gained her pilots license within a year of leaving hospital. If you haven’t seen Janine’s TED Talk it is not one to be missed and gives a true view of what she shared; that acceptance is a lived experience, it is a doorway that we must pass through to live. How true acceptance only comes when you say ‘YES” to the whole experience and that it’s not about having it all but loving it all.

Or as writer and former model Tara Moss put it, it’s actually about having YOUR all. As someone who was famed for her physical looks Tara delved into what it looks and feels like to be a woman living today. With all the media attention and consistent reminders that despite all that has moved forward, women are still disproportionally represented in politics, media, and corporations, even in our own social circles. How if we as women are to create change we first must look after our selves, stop holding ourselves, or others up as superheros and recognise that as ‘ordinary’ people, we are capable of extra-ordinary things.

Which couldn’t be truer of the firework that is Lucy Perry, the former CEO of Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia. After going from a volunteer to CEO in the space of three short years, Lucy spoke of audacious determination, courage and how kindness should be the default business practice of every business. She also had the whole house laughing and crying, even sharing the story of how she gave birth at a party and that we need to always take the time to celebrate the wins.

Clare Bowditch celebrated women in all shapes, sizes and stages. How we must sit in The Uncomfortable During and acknowledge that life is seldom lead at the ‘before’ and ‘after’ stage. Treating us to a couple of songs – the lyrics reminding us that if:

“You want an amazing life

But you can’t decide

You don’t have to be just one thing

But you have to start with something.”

Leading an amazing life can only be done if we show up fully in every area, which is what Tami Simon urged us to investigate. Asking us if we can heed the call of our dreams, to have the courage to find out and be comfortable with forging the path that hasn’t been trodden yet. Tami left us with trust, truth and letting go as being the keys to being true to who we are.

Coming full circle, Seane Corn took to the stage again to tie up the threads of the themes that were shared on stage throughout the day. Reminding us to simply start where we are. There is no place to be other than now and to approach life, leadership and change with open ears, open eyes and above all an open heart.

I left feeling uplifted and so bonded to all the other people in the audience. Creating a space where hearts are open and people have come together with a similar intention awakens a very special and potent kind of energy. I think it was a beginning to understanding our own power and truth as women; that we, as we are and where we are, are the change makers who will lead the world into a new way of being.

On wobbly legs, I began. To untangle and grapple with what the last twenty seven years had been about, but more currently the last five. What was I doing, who was I and what the fuck was I going to do now?

Root cause, begin at the base, otherwise it will keep growing back. But learn patience because somethings can’t be dealt with swiftly like a telesales caller. Somethings you have to bring out time and time again and get so frustrated that it is still there and then laugh as you finally get the biggest fucking joke of all. IT’S NEVER GOING TO GO AWAY. YOU have to make space for it, and love it in all its ugliness equal to the acceptable and pleasing facets of your human nature. You have to blaze a bonfire of light on it and say I AM NOT AFRAID OF YOU. I SEE YOU IN YOUR BIG GROTESQUE FRIGHTENING FORM. YOU ARE PART OF ME. Now come sit and be quiet, I have work to do.

SOUL WORK.

HARD WORK LIKE YOU HAVE NEVER KNOWN.

WILD WOMAN WORK.

Lose the things that need to be lost. Let them go. Honour them, remember them fondly like a lost lover, but put them down and put one foot in front of the other again.

Find the things that need to be found. Face to fear. Face it because you have to. It’s a choice again. This or death. Not in a Life-Death-Life cycle but in a this is the end abyss so be thrilled by it and then step back with renewed vigor and purpose and knowing.

LISTEN.

I hear you.

I see you.

I honour your hurt.

Feel every last ounce of it. It will make you a better human being.

Remind yourself why you love people so much. BECAUSE YOU LOVE YOURSELF.

Not every moment on every day in a vocal way, some days you have to dig and sit and wait for the blue sky of knowing to peep through the blackest storm clouds for you to go ‘Yes there she is. There is my love. MY LOVE.’ But a belief, Inherent, wise, that it is always above.

Now go and share and sing it so loud that people will defy gravity because of your resounding voice speaking to their souls. TRUTH that they ARE ready to hear. That they CAN handle and will reverberate to the deepest beat of the heart.

WE ARE THE ARCHITECTS OF OUR FUTURE…OF THE FUTURE.

I choose to be present to it all. To tighten up and to listen hard and to raise my head with open eyes and say I AM READY FOR IT. LET’S GO.

In retreat and in action, in reflection and in movement, I want to feel it all because it is the only way I will ever feel it. I am still learning.

Sometimes the same lessons in different disguises, through familiar voices and feelings that creep up with such knowing I could swear they knew me from the beginning of time. To wrestle with and heal and grow forth. To rise and to lead from the biggest open heart I know how to own. To love fully and unconditionally. As Woman as She who has always known. THANK YOU.