Empowered Women Empower Women

On this last day of International Women’s month I want to share about something that’s not talked about a lot but something you have likely experienced, Tall Poppy Syndrome.

Tall Poppy Syndrome is a social phenomenon where successful individuals are criticized, resented, or attacked, simply because of their achievements. It is a common experience, especially for women and other historically disadvantaged groups.

Unfortunately, Tall Poppy Syndrome can lead to fear and discomfort of being visible, celebrated, joyful, or having vast amounts of success. This fear can create an inner-conflict, causing you to hold yourself back from fully expressing your true potential.

It’s not uncommon that it is through pain and tragedy that we feel the connection with others we so deeply desire. But what if we could change the dynamic and experience a situation where we could feel joy and connection at the same time? 

This is where Joy Bonding comes in. Joy Bonding is about empowering each other, celebrating each other's successes, and lifting each other up. It’s about creating a community that supports and encourages one another, rather than tearing each other down.

At the most recent Empowering Womxn of Color Conference at the University of Berkeley where I facilitated my first Joy Bonding workshop we planted the seed of bonding through joy instead of pain and suffering. This is what Joy Bonding looks like:

The powers that be, know that when a group of women come together they have the power to change culture.

We do this by coming together and giving voice to our experiences, witnessing one another and setting intentions to transform the toxic culture of competition that has been put upon us by current structures. 

It's time to create a culture where we can share our gifts, celebrate our accomplishments, and find joy in each other's successes. By doing so, we can create a community of empowered women who are not afraid to be visible, celebrated, and joyful. 

So let’s start empowering each other through Joy Bonding. Let's celebrate each other's successes and lift each other up. Together, we can break free from Tall Poppy Syndrome and create a community where joy and connection go hand in hand.