At the National Air and Space Museum today, I only teared up about four times.
Three of the four times happened when I was reading about women pioneers in flying technology: Bessie Coleman, Anne Lindbergh, and Amelia Earhart. There is something about the stories of these first women that I find incredibly moving.
What IS it? What is it about certain leaders and their stories that stir my soul? What are the stories, the legacies, and the leaders that stir yours?
How do these tales relate to the thought leaders you follow, the brands you’re loyal to, the books you purchase, and the causes you donate to?
Take Bessie Coleman, for example. She wanted to learn how to fly, but in the early 1900s in the United States, neither Black people nor Native Americans nor women were permitted to fly. So she studied French and moved to France to earn her pilot’s license.
Take a minute to imagine the perseverance and courage that took. Imagine how many people disapproved, discouraged her, feared for her. Imagine how many limiting beliefs she powered through, not to mention the actual financial and even physical challenges she overcame!
There are examples upon examples of figures like Bessie, remarkable people who went over, under and around the barriers and the culture and the circumstances that told them NO.
It makes me realize how humble my aspirations are. Not that everyone’s goals must be to defy gender and racial barriers, but how incredible that there is a legacy of outstandingly brave women to draw upon when we feel small and insignificant.
One of my favorite “reframes” came from my mentor Eleanor Beaton, who urges women to focus on commitment over confidence. Confidence is not a precursor to doing brave, difficult work – confidence comes from DOING the work, even when you feel afraid and uncertain. The more you do the work, the greater your confidence. Your confidence builds as you prove to yourself, over and over, what you are capable of.
But commitment – to yourself, your ideas, your values – is steadfast. You can keeping working on your commitments no matter HOW you feel.
What is it that moves you? Can you commit to that? What can you be first to do, in a big or small way? How can you commit to leading yourself, and someday, maybe others?
