The SUPPORT HER Manifesto
November 13, 2011 in Turning Your Dream Into Reality
In the last few months I have come across a phenomenon on the internet that makes my heart smile. A supportive network of female bloggers; commenting and emailing each other with advice, inspiration and encouragement. It’s something that is unfortunately fairly rare but I hope that the spreading of this manifesto will help to change that.
Too often women change admiration into jealousy, switch support with bitchiness and twist hard work into luck. Why are we taking each other down and turning life into one car crash of a competition? We all lose.
Bad-mouthing that successful artist won’t make your work any more popular. Spreading false rumours about the girl at the gym having an eating disorder, won’t give you the figure she’s been working hard at for years. Posting vicious anonymous comments on an up-and-coming blogger ‘s site won’t get you any more traffic.
It will however, make you feel awful about yourself.
So let’s change our mindsets from competitive to supportive. We all have our own talents, skills and strengths; why not share them and create amazing things alongside other incredible women? Let them spur you on and fill you with ideas and excitement!
The woman that makes you feel stuck because she seems to have her life figured out?
Support her and learn from her achievements.
The woman who makes you feel as if you’re lagging behind because she is succeeding in a similar field?
Support her and use her as a guide or mentor.
The woman who makes you feel out of control due to her healthy and balanced life?
Support her and follow her lead.
The woman that makes you feel bad about yourself because she is following her dreams?
Support her and let her inspire you.
♥ . ♥ . ♥
Instead of being jealous, be encouraging.
Instead of feeling bitter, feel motivated.
Instead of competing, collaborate.
…
The only way we win is to collaborate together and support each other.
To give each other a boost over the wall and end up on the other side, brighter, smarter and better women.
…
If you agree with this manifesto, please share it. Spread the word and in turn, the support. Share sweet messages of encouragement, posts by other bloggers, work by other artists and music by other musicians on Twitter (or on Facebook) using the hashtag #supporther. Let’s start something incredible and positive!
That’s what I’ma talkin’ about!(haha, said in a really terrible faux Italian accent). I feel so blessed to be on the receiving end of this encouragement from my gorgeous fellow bloggy friends (like you) and could not be more in support of this manifesto if I tried!
Being comfortable in the knowledge that there’s enough “bigness” to go around and freeing up the energy spent tearing people down to really celebrate their successes is a beautiful place to be. Let’s all be lifted by each other – if Miss X is out there rocking it, let her show you how it’s done and go rock it in your own unique way.
Inspiration is cyclical, and I believe the more we share our value – and AUTHENTICALLY connect with people to help them rather than “get something out of them” – the more inspired we become ourselves.
Bravo Kim, thank you for sprinkling your sunshine all over the interwebs. You’re doing reeeeeeal good stuff here my love :D xx
Thanks Rach, I knew you’d like this post! Great comments abut lifting each other and rocking things in your own way. There is definitely enough to go around and I hope we can all encourage each other and be inspired by others’ brilliance. Let’s get connecting and supporting!!!
Touched by your comments lovely. xxx
Beautiful post – 100% agree.
Thanks Serena. xx
What a fabulous post! I absolutely agree and love the supportive network.of female bloggers that has started to develop.
It is a nice reminder for when we start to feel jealous, to take a step back and really encourage other ladies in whatever they are doing, while using them as inspiration for improving our own lives!!
Great job as usual :)
Thank you Jasmine! Isn’t the supportive network of bloggers magnificent? I hope there is a shift towards that kind of encouragement all over the web and beyond (into real life)!
So glad you enjoyed and agreed with the post. xx
You are an amazing woman x
Aww thank you Aidrie. What a lovely thing to say! *blushes* Right back atcha! xx
This makes me smile too, love this idea and totally agree.
Another beautiful and inspirational post from you too!
Thanks Christina – so glad the post put a smile on your face! Thank YOU for YOUR support – means a lot. xx
That was really beautiful.
I came to the same conclusion, and a decision, many years ago – it’s better to spread good than bad.
Here’s to this manifesto picking up steam :) !
Thank you so much for your lovely comment Ana! It is definitely better to spread good – I hope the manifesto is a timely reminder for women everywhere. :) xx
i LOVe this post and i couldn’t agree with you more. it’s one reason why i don’t really like women sometimes (even though i am one!) because we can treat each other so badly! i do try to be positive on a day to day basis, but i think i’m going to start making much more of a conscious effort x
Thank you Rachael! We do tend to treat each other badly, isn’t it awful? I am constantly trying to turn any jealousies I find creeping in this brain of mine into admiration. It is a conscious effort, but so worth it! Good luck hun. x
I agree entirely with your manifesto. It’s so uplifting to support other women and to be supported. Ironically, I do think it is hard for some people to be happy and inspired by others when they just don’t know where to begin for themselves, or even identify within themselves that they want change. To those women, I’d say to start with your blog. Reading your thoughts and ideas is inspiring and will give women a place to start and the encouragement and courage to move forward. I for one love reading your work and believe that you are very much achieving what you have set out to. Thank-you!
Thank you so much Jodi, your comments always bring a huge smile to my face. Just knowing that even one person is touched by the words on this blog makes it such a worthwhile project!
I think it is definitely hard to shake jealousies and insecurities and use other women as inspiration, but it brings so many rewards. Bitterness never helps you gain any insight or knowledge, but if we look to those that are succeeding for guidance and inspiration, we can learn a lot. Thank you again for your beautiful words, they are wonderful to hear. xx
This is brilliant & I love it! I’m just starting to get into this side of the internet and I am so encouraged to see so many amazing women all collaborating and supporting each other. I’m a new reader & found you through Yes&Yes.
Welcome welcome Amanda, so great to have you over here. Thank you for your comment – I get excited when I see women banding together too! x