The media is flooded with stories of inequality, disrespect and abuse against women. Although the symptoms may manifest as external, (Trump, gender bias, men abusing their power, entertainment and media, our parents or first love, etc.), the roots of the struggle are often internal. Consider how many times a day you give your power away to a wounded narrative and the emotional accumulation of your past? When we become overly identified with the story of our experiences, accomplishments or failures we lose our connection to our authentic self.

This is a wake up call for all genders. How are you showing up? How will you be defined in this evolutionary moment–as a victim, an abuser or as a co-creative leader?

Regardless of gender, the shift begins with each of us making the decision to own our story rather than letting it own us. To begin:

• Examine the narrative that tells you that you’re not good enough and that you have to pretend to be less or more than your full, true and authentic self to get or keep what you want.
• Do a reality check on the idea that you are somehow better than or entitled to take from another for your own gain (#hint: this is the same inadequacy story dressed up in different clothes).
• Feel into the emotional weight of the fear that keeps you quiet or has you go along to get along when everything in you is saying, “Hell no!”
• Look long in the mirror at the person who may have used some aspect of your physicality, position, money, priviledge or sense of entitlement to manipulate or gain compliance from another human being.

Until we completely own our story–as perfectly imperfect as we are–demonstrating to the world through our own actions how to treat us with the love and respect we deserve, we will continue to give our power away, oscillating between victim and abuser. The responsibility for change begins with you and me.

Co-creative Leadership is the paradoxical art of owning our story, while remembering that we are much more than the sum of our experiences. It is the ability to appreciate and stay connected to our humanness while bringing the authentic power of mindful action to the ordinary and extraordinary challenges we face in our work together. When you show up in your power, people see and respond to you in a new way.