Women Helping Women

women-helping-women

If you want to find something, a place, a service or some good advice, whom will you ask? A woman, of course! Women are the greatest Yellow Pages resource ever. If you like what she is wearing, or reading, or the cut and color of her hair, a woman is happy to tell you all about it. Is this a maternal, hormonal trait or just social training? Whatever the cause, women will open up to the universe and help just about anyone.

Women Helping Women is Better Than The Yellow Pages

I have been a therapist for over half of my life and have shared many women’s walks through life. I have found women will love and care freely for others, but they are not so caring of themselves. Many women feel they have no one to talk to, no one with whom they can share their issues. Many say they do not want to burden others with their problems, because they do not want to let someone else down! Women come into this world with a basket brimming with personal, emotional and psychological resources, which they freely give away. Then, when it is time to pull some out for themselves–oops–the resources are gone.

The Importance of Being Helped

Fortunately, women today are becoming aware of the importance of being helped, as well as helping others. Today’s popular terms, mentor and coach, are just business models that dress up the age-old practice of women helping women. By watching good role models, women have learned how to be good mothers, good wives and good friends, but what about the myriad other areas that have only recently become part of a woman’s world?

  • Who does she ask about jobs, or career moves, or investing, or health care or issues surrounding growing older?
  • Where can the average woman honestly share her feelings?
  • Who will answer her hard questions?

She has to find a mentor, a role model to offer advice on career, education, parenting or any other life skill.

Does it Cost to Have a Mentor?

Having or being a mentor does not involve an exchange of money. Instead, a mentor provides advice, shows you the ropes and helps you to avoid mistakes if you will listen. A woman mentor can save you a world of headaches and sorrow and it is worth searching for someone with the experience you need. However, searching for a female role model in the worlds of business, medicine, religion, or sports often raises the question, “Have we women traveled as far down the fast track of life as we anticipated?”

Mentor or Life Coach?

Admittedly, volunteer mentors can be in short supply in some areas, and this may be what has given rise to the relatively new and trendy position of life coach. You can hire a coach to help you with business, executive challenges, sales, transitions, academics, management and any aspect of your personal life. If we stop and think, women did some of the earliest coaching in their historic roles as midwives. Then, as now, a coach would help you attain your goal and deliver your maximum performance!

How Do I Find a Mentor?

Look around in your community. Is there someone you admire for her skills or success? Invite her to coffee, or to go for a walk or just telephone and ask her advice. Everyone is pleased to feel admired. And remember–women are happy to help. Open up to the relationship, and you will identify ways you can help her in return or pass it on to others.

There’s no shame in this. We all need someone to help us now and then with life’s issues, concerns and today’s astounding maze of choices!

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