< PreviousEEvery living thing on the planet needs to stretch and grow. Without growth you are left with stagnation and inner unrest. But beyond those walls there are huge opportunities for personal growth, fulfilment and a much deeper connection with those around you. Think of it this way, the more you are able to share of your true self by embracing your vulnerability, the greater your potential to genuinely connect with the people around you. And the greater your ability to connect, the greater your ability to love and be loved back too. As for Jemma, well she got her promotion and she’s doing just fine. And so will you. mbracing your vulnerability can be scary at times, but playing small behind defensive walls is never healthy. Vulnerability is the only authentic state. Being vulnerable means being open, for wounding, but also for pleasure. ―By Sonia McDonald DO YOU HAVE THE HCOURAGE TO JUMP Then something totally unexpected and heart wrenching happened. It was there that I became a full time single mum with only $2000 left in the bank, and I had to start my life again. I had to move back to Australia and reinvent myself. But how did I find the courage to do this? Looking back, it came down to a choice; a choice between letting this event define me or using it to create a new and different life for my little 4-year-old girl, Abby and myself. My mind chose the latter. Believe me; it was tough, and some days I questioned myself, but I never let those doubts and questions take over. I stayed strong and followed my passion. That passion was leadership. I knew because when I was researching, teaching, consulting or thinking about this space, I was in the flow. It wasn’t work anymore; it was my true purpose. So with this in mind, I asked myself how I could make this passion for leadership develop into something more meaningful - something bigger, something where I could be making difference to others. Ihad given up my own career and life in Australia to follow my husband when his career took him to China. From there, I decided to start writing a blog which I called LeadershipHQ.I also started working part time with a consulting company. My mind was a huge parachute; it was so open to learning everything I could about leadership and consulting. One day at a client site, someone said to me, “Sonia, I don’t understand why you're not working for yourself.” Now here came the ANTS (automatic negative thoughts) and I said to myself, “I can’t. I am not good enough. I am a single mum. It’s too scary, and what happens if I fail?” But where was the data? I couldn’t actually find evidence that anything terrible would happen (other than the single mum thing). I squashed those ANTS! I stood on a cliff, looking down to the water which on some days was calm and others rough. Then I looked up and saw what appeared to be a very clear and beautiful sky…with an amazing light. The light was shining from the wonderful cheerleaders around me, the courage within me to follow my passion and dream, and finally from the clarity around building an amazing future for my little girl. I jumped. It took innate passion, complete vulnerability and absolute courage to jump, but I did. Now I have the most fulfilling and awesome business, and have just launched my fantastic women in leadership program – empowHER. et me share some of my keylearnings along the way:LKnow your strengths, find your passions Watch your thinking, you will become your thoughts Surround yourself with only people that want to help you rowyour boat Start planning now, and do your research Just JUMP! If I can jump, anyone can jump. Any one of you can be the best you want to be, and live the life and dreams you want and desire. It starts with your mind. Remember you are the Director of your stageand you control the actors that come onto that stage. Stand at the edge of that cliff right in front of you and focus on putting empowering and inspiring actors on your stage, and then jump – because you are amazing and can do anything you set your mind to! VULNERABILTY 12 SIGNS OFand we generally judge this as a bad thing, an emotion to be avoided at all costs. But what if your vulnerability was really your superpower, and appreciation of its undiscovered potential could lead you exactly on the path you are meant to follow? Each Sun sign approaches vulnerability in slightly or dramatically different ways. Would you find value in coming to understand and appreciate the way that your Sun sign could express vulnerability as a strength?On the surface it might appear that the water signs, particularly Cancer and Pisces, are the most vulnerable signs as they are so closely tied to the emotions. And yet our emotions are the key to our strengths in life – and denying our emotions can lead to discord in our body, mind and spirit. So how does your Sun Sign help you express your vulnerability in more resourceful ways, thereby enriching your experience in this life? Read on… We all of us can feel vulnerable at some point in our lives,March 21-April 20 Cardinal Fire Ruled by Mars You would be forgiven for mistaking that The Ram is the least vulnerable of all signs, with her outgoing manner, friendly disposition and her willingness to take on any challenge. But it is her openness that makes her vulnerable as she says what is on her mind, and her enemies would be mistaken for thinking this equates to weakness. But with nothing to hide, there is nothing to disown or lament. May 22-June 20 Mutable Air Ruled by Mercury If The Twins have a vulnerability, it is in their delight in constant mental stimulation – they are most vulnerable to boredom of any of the signs. So when you align yourself with a Gemini friend, you can almost certainly be assured of a constant source of fun, stimulation and discovery of the world that you were previously unaware of. April 21-May 21 Fixed Earth Ruled by Venus Being under the rulership of the planet Venus, The Bull has a weakness for the sensual delights of good food, good wine and the finer things in life. When she is able to indulge her senses, then her vulnerability shows as she goes out of her way to secure her enjoyable pastimes, and if you are in her good graces then you will join her as she loves to share her bounty of delights with those she esteems. AriesTaurusGeminiJune 21-July 22 Cardinal Water Ruled by the Moon The Crab carries her home on her back for a reason – she is such a lover of home and family that she is often uncomfortable, yes vulnerable even, when she is without her shell of homely comfort. She may seem to be ill at ease and overly sensitive when she doesn’t have her familiar environment to soothe her, but she is stronger than she knows and her sweetness is a treasure if she is treated kindly. August 23-September 22 Mutable Earth Ruled by Mercury As together as The Virgin appears to be in many areas of life, if you were to leave her in a house full of clutter and disarray, and constantly turned up late to your appointments, you would soon be aware of her vulnerable side as she would be quite beside herself. She so loves order that she would not tolerate such untidiness, either in her home or in her expectations and you would soon be helping her straighten up. July 23-August 22 Fixed Fire Ruled by the Sun Because The Lioness loves to be the benevolent ruler of her clan of friends and family, she is vulnerable to the indifference of others. But this very trait is what assures us that she will treat her loved ones with respect and generosity, as she needs the warmth of human regard and would wither away without it. Leo rules the heart, and hers is bigger than the Sun itself. CancerLeoVirgoSeptember 23-October 22 Cardinal Air Ruled by Venus Balance, peace and justice are three words that equate to The Scales. And so this Libran girl is highly sensitive to discord in her surroundings and in her relationships, and she is vulnerable to environments where unfairness, nastiness or bad manners occur. She has a talent for restoring equanimity wherever she is, and she has a knack for having everyone around her be on their best behaviour. November 22-December 21 Mutable Fire Ruled by Jupiter Freedom, joy and happiness are the domain of The Archer so any lack of these traits in her life will bring out the vulnerable side in her. She loves the open road, the ability to be constantly absorbing information about her wider world and if she strikes out on an adventure it is because she has been feeling far too safe and cloistered of late. Best to let her loose her arrows into the world and see what exciting places they land. October 23-November 21 Fixed Water Ruled by Pluto She will never, ever, admit it, but The Scorpion feels the most vulnerable of all the signs. Even when she’s relaxing she is waiting for the other shoe to drop and so she will often subdue her emotions (she is a Water Sign after all) so you don’t realise you’ve made a faux pas until she has stung you with her disdain. If she drops the veil and you happen to spot her vulnerable side, best pretend you didn’t see it and go on with your day. LibraScorpioSagittariusNext >