Beyond the mask: Celebrating our whole selves this IWD
Today is International Women's Day, and I'm celebrating in a way that feels truly meaningful to me. I'll be gathering with a group of 50 women who all attended the same business school that I did. This feels particularly significant because since moving to London in 2021, I've changed greatly. I arrived as a newly wed, fresh off the boat from Berlin and grateful to be back in a country that spoke my native tongue.
The Imposter's Journey
I attended plenty of networking events when I first landed, trying to meet likeminded people and find new friends, colleagues, and clients. The only trouble was that while my goal was to find likeminded people, I wasn't being fully myself.
I wanted to be seen as smart, successful, courageous, and confident. I wanted people to remember me. But the more I tried to appear that way, the less I actually was. I felt like an imposter, like I didn't belong. Even in groups of peers where we had easy connections, like attending the same business school.
I had moved away from the business world, out of leadership development, and was focused on healing. I felt like no one understood what I was doing, or like I was too "woo" to even share my work. I felt like I needed to be all "business" and speak that language. And by doing so I erased my unique qualities – the very things that make me magnetic and vibrant.
The Stories That Hold Us Back
In feeling like I didn't belong, all I did was avoid building relationships with people that could have been meaningful. It was difficult to be present, to connect genuinely, because I was in my own head – my own story about who I was and who they were. And more often than not, I decided that we were very different. Creating a chasm of "me" vs. "them".
These stories held me back. They didn't allow for me to just be myself and meet the human beings in front of me. They created a separation – a lack of trust.
Stepping Into Fullness
So today, on this IWD, I feel grateful to know that I am more fully who I am than I've ever been before. I honor and celebrate the business woman, the healer, the podcaster, the connecter, the community builder, the empath – all parts of myself that make me who I am. And I know that by being more fully myself I give others permission to do the same.
I am celebrating women today by being the fiercest, boldest, most confident version of myself that I have ever been. I am giving permission for others to do the same. And I am committed to lifting up women at every stage of their growth and healing journey so they, too, can be more fully themselves.
If you'd like help to become the truest version of yourself,
Here's What Else is Happening:
Don't Step on the Bluebells
Episode #33 is out and it's brilliant (if I do say so myself!) It's another minisode with yours truly all about "How Listening to Your Intuition Can Change Your Life." Tune in wherever you get your podcasts – and check out the show notes here.
Women Healers Collective
We're now 15 members strong and growing! Our conversations are already revealing such incredible talent – from energy workers to somatic practitioners, intuitive coaches to holistic therapists. The wisdom and knowledge being shared is exactly what I envisioned when creating this space.
Early Bird Pricing (50% off) ends March 31st – after that, membership rates double. If you're ready to join a community of badass women healers who support each other's growth and celebrate each other's unique gifts – apply to join us here.
Healers Clinics
If you are a healer and want to deepen your practice and troubleshoot something in your healing work or business, stay tuned for live healer's clinics coming to different cities over the next months:
Berlin – 22nd April
New York – 28th May
London – 16th July
If you'd like to be a part of a clinic – or help to support other healers on clinic days let’s talk! Contact me here or on Instagram @amandaparker.co
PLUS, here are three ways I can help you on your journey:
#1: Get personalized support: I offer 1:1 coaching for clients ready to fully commit to their personal growth journey. 2 spots are already filled for 2025, only 8 remain. Let’s talk about how I can help you reach your goals. --> HERE
#2: Follow me on LinkedIn for daily wisdom and insight --> HERE
#3: Join the Women Healers Collective: If you’re a healer looking for a peer community to deepen your practice and connect with others – applications are now open (and for a limited time you'll receive 50% off membership!) --> HERE