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NYC WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT SUMMIT

NEW TALK TOPICS

We hear it from the day we're born -- love, yourself, love yourself, love yourself -- but we don't know what that means. The main reason we don't know what it means is that the people telling it to us don't know what it means either. Our mothers and fathers can't teach us to love ourselves if they didn't know how to love themselves.

Loving ourselves truly and unconditionally has nothing to do with ego. Self love is not about how amazing your job is, how you wear your hair, how many degrees or facebook friends you have, whether you have the right bag or shoes; or how many times you can use the word fabulous to describe your life. Loving you is about knowing deep in your soul that no matter what happens, you are enough. When you love you you're meticulous about the foods and substances you put into your body and the people and distractions you allow into your life.

We get trapped by our stories. We secretly feel that we are our gender, our race, our social status, our educational level when we are so much more. Our stories are noble and worthy, but we are not just victims and survivors.

The condition of your life circumstances are a mirror, showing exactly what you think of yourself. If you think that you are unworthy, undeserving, unable, your life will reflect that. The real truth is that you deserve more. You are worthy and more powerful than you can imagine. There is an incredible life waiting for you.

Let's talk about rising up to meet it. Yeah!!

Occupy Everything! Why It's Your World Right Now; 

You could go up to any person in the world and say, "Oh my goodness. I'm so sorry about what you're going through" and they would say, "Who told you?" The past few years have been challenging for all of us but one could say that this is just part of being an adult. None of us will make it out alive. Nonetheless, we have reasons to celebration. There has been a great deal of discussion about 2012 being the end of the world but Abiola says no, this is just the beginning.

It is a lie and a gross misjudgement to assume that because there is a black family in the White House that America is post-racial. But no matter your race, cultural background or gender, there are specific tools to employ that will allow you not only to overcome and survive, but to achieve and thrive.

Daughter of Guyanese immigrants, Abiola will present a fun motivational talk filled with concrete advice and inspiring historical references on how to break through barriers and smash glass ceilings. Never mind the odds and statistics. Odds mean nothing when you have nothing to lose but everything. This is the moment where it would be more painful to remain closed tight in a bud than it would be to grow.

Last year we saw the overthrow of supposedly immovable powers worldwide. This year there is an American presidential election. It is more important than ever that you stand up and be counted. You may look at Big Media and feel powerless but you have more power than you can imagine. This is the time to Occupy Everything, and Abiola will tell you how.

Click to go to Abiola's Speaker's Bureau Page.

With Jamye Waxman & Candida Royalle at The New School.