Читать книгу The Woman's Book of Hope - Eileen Campbell - Страница 20

Sometimes we doubt that we have the requisite strength and ability to hold on to our vision. Occasionally, we beat ourselves up because we've fallen short of our ideals in some way or wandered off track, so cultivating self-belief is really important for us all.

We need to remember that we are each unique, with particular gifts we can put to use to achieve our goals. We will be better at some things than others, and it's okay to be gentle with ourselves rather than judgmental if there are some things we find difficult or if we slip up. Each one of us has something special that will serve us well, a talent that we can utilize both for our benefit and for the benefit of others.

When I visited Portland, Oregon, I was intrigued by a beautiful statue of Sacagawea, a Shoshone Indian woman who acted as interpreter on the Lewis and Clark expedition in 1804 to explore the lands beyond the Mississippi. This journey across the Great Plains, the Rocky Mountains, and the western rivers was an extraordinary feat of endurance, during the course of which they encountered subzero temperatures, blizzards, hunger, disease, mosquitos, and grizzly bears!

Captured as a young girl by a raiding party, Sacagawea was enslaved and ultimately purchased by a French fur trader who was hired by Lewis and Clark. Pregnant at the time, and the only woman on the expedition, she was taken along because she spoke Shoshone. Sacagawea proved to be an important asset, not least because she had incredible self-belief and was prepared to voice her opinion about issues such as where they should best spend the winter. Her experience as a Native American woman meant that she was invaluable in being able to search for edible roots and plants and make moccasins and clothing for the party. She has subsequently become an icon of courage for women.

Another inspirational example is Ann Davison, largely unknown these days because she was not as publicity seeking as some are. She was the first woman to sail single-handed across the Atlantic—3,310 miles from Plymouth to Antigua. What is remarkable is that this was her second attempt, her first having been disastrous. She and her husband had a series of financial difficulties, and deeply in debt, they had fled their creditors to avoid having their seventy-foot boat impounded. Beset by gales, their boat eventually smashed up on Portland Bill on the south coast of England. Ann's husband died, while she survived fourteen hours adrift on a life raft and was washed ashore. Few women would have wanted to attempt the crossing again, let alone on their own. Ann pulled her life back together, however, and in memory of her late husband, and also as a personal test of everything that had gone before, she had enough self-belief to achieve her goal some years later.

We too need to believe in ourselves and put our skills to good use. When we value our life experience and are prepared to put it to the test, we flourish and can feel hopeful about the future.

I believe in myself and my abilities.

I am utilizing my talents for myself and others.

My self-belief grows stronger every day.