Posted by Dale Griffiths Stamos
Are you interested in becoming a RenWoman? (Or a Renaissance Man?) Well, to guide the way, here are ten keys to the Renaissance life gleaned from interviews with our amazing RenWomen!
1. Profit from Education
Education means everything from studies, to travel, to learning to use Photoshop, to tackling a foreign language. Keep exploring, and following your curiosity and interests wherever they lead. Learning is an ongoing process!
2. Pursue a Limitless Life
Yes, of course, we all deal with limits. But so many of us self-impose those limits or listen to limits placed on us by others, and therefore don't even try. Limits should be something you challenge, push, and more often than not overcome!
3. Trust in Your Passions
You have a passion for painting? Do it! Find every art class you can, create a studio in an unused room, go to lots of galleries. You would love to speak three languages? Who's stopping you? Take that course, find that conversation group, go to that foreign country for a month of immersion. Even if you don't have a lot of time, spending 10 minutes a day on a passion will get you ever closer and will simply make you feel happier!
4. Learn to Listen
Listen to others who are experts in something you want to master, listen to mentors colleagues, and teachers. But most importantly, listen to yourself. Learn to take the time to slow down enough to listen to the quiet voice of guidance within.
5. Be Grateful for Failure
It is the best learning tool for pointing you in the direction of success. To try and then to fail is not an end, it is a step on the path to honing and developing your life goals. Celebrate the failures as much as the successes.
6. Believe in the Ever Evolving Brain
Modern neurobiology has shown that we are constantly growing new brain cells. These cells emerge out of activities that challenge and push us past our comfort zones. Constantly growing and learning new things not only enriches your life, but enriches your brain, helping you to continue a full life into old age.
7. Appreciate Your Relationships.
So many of our RenWomen talk about the support systems in their lives. The spouses, parents, friends, mentors and bosses that have helped them along the way. Look at your own support system - cherish and value it. Let those people in your life know how much they matter to you.
8. Take Risks.
It can be scary, yes. But stepping out into the unknown, pushing past the fear, doing something no one else has tried, or taking a chance on a life long dream, this is often the only way to expand personally and professionally and achieve in multiple arenas.
9. Balance Your Head and Your Heart
Couple intellect with passion, pragmatism with inspiration, organized action plans with expansive dreaming. You must look to your heart for what excites, thrills and empowers you. Then look to your head for how best to plan and execute those things.
10. Remember It's Not Just About You
All of our RenWomen have achieved remarkable things. But each, also, is motivated by a desire to help others. They look to share their knowledge, to inspire people to live full lives, to right wrongs, to shine spotlights on injustice or inequities, and to generally move through each day with compassion. These women know a very important truth about this world: We are all in it together.
Are you interested in becoming a RenWoman? (Or a Renaissance Man?) Well, to guide the way, here are ten keys to the Renaissance life gleaned from interviews with our amazing RenWomen!
1. Profit from Education
Education means everything from studies, to travel, to learning to use Photoshop, to tackling a foreign language. Keep exploring, and following your curiosity and interests wherever they lead. Learning is an ongoing process!
2. Pursue a Limitless Life
Yes, of course, we all deal with limits. But so many of us self-impose those limits or listen to limits placed on us by others, and therefore don't even try. Limits should be something you challenge, push, and more often than not overcome!
3. Trust in Your Passions
You have a passion for painting? Do it! Find every art class you can, create a studio in an unused room, go to lots of galleries. You would love to speak three languages? Who's stopping you? Take that course, find that conversation group, go to that foreign country for a month of immersion. Even if you don't have a lot of time, spending 10 minutes a day on a passion will get you ever closer and will simply make you feel happier!
4. Learn to Listen
Listen to others who are experts in something you want to master, listen to mentors colleagues, and teachers. But most importantly, listen to yourself. Learn to take the time to slow down enough to listen to the quiet voice of guidance within.
5. Be Grateful for Failure
It is the best learning tool for pointing you in the direction of success. To try and then to fail is not an end, it is a step on the path to honing and developing your life goals. Celebrate the failures as much as the successes.
6. Believe in the Ever Evolving Brain
Modern neurobiology has shown that we are constantly growing new brain cells. These cells emerge out of activities that challenge and push us past our comfort zones. Constantly growing and learning new things not only enriches your life, but enriches your brain, helping you to continue a full life into old age.
7. Appreciate Your Relationships.
So many of our RenWomen talk about the support systems in their lives. The spouses, parents, friends, mentors and bosses that have helped them along the way. Look at your own support system - cherish and value it. Let those people in your life know how much they matter to you.
8. Take Risks.
It can be scary, yes. But stepping out into the unknown, pushing past the fear, doing something no one else has tried, or taking a chance on a life long dream, this is often the only way to expand personally and professionally and achieve in multiple arenas.
9. Balance Your Head and Your Heart
Couple intellect with passion, pragmatism with inspiration, organized action plans with expansive dreaming. You must look to your heart for what excites, thrills and empowers you. Then look to your head for how best to plan and execute those things.
10. Remember It's Not Just About You
All of our RenWomen have achieved remarkable things. But each, also, is motivated by a desire to help others. They look to share their knowledge, to inspire people to live full lives, to right wrongs, to shine spotlights on injustice or inequities, and to generally move through each day with compassion. These women know a very important truth about this world: We are all in it together.
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