Accelerate Action: Harnessing 10 Top Life Lessons for International Women's Day 2025
International Women’s Day 2025 is all about action— taking, and accelerating, it and, consequently, making a tangible difference.
The challenge remains how to “accelerate action” in a way that feels grounded and authentic, as opposed to it being just the usual IWD catchy buzz-phrase. How do we walk the talk?
For me, it’s about sharing the things I’ve learned in life to date with honesty, to inspire others, and encourage continual forward motion, even on occasions when it feels tough or relentless.
Sharing here my Top Ten Life Lessons to motivate other women through that journey to create measurable and sustainable change.
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Embrace Opportunities
Say yes. Yes to things that seem unfamiliar, or even intimidating. Sometimes, the best moments in life come when you take unplanned opportunities. They might seem a bit left field, take you completely off-piste, but often they lead to some of the most unexpectedly rewarding experiences. The key is being open and ready to jump in, even when you don’t have it all figured out.
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Trust Your Intuition
It’s easy to second-guess yourself or get stuck in overthinking, but more often than not, your gut knows what’s best. Trust it. Your inner voice is often the best guide toward the right path, even when things feel uncertain, overwhelming even.
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Find Your Purpose
Purpose isn’t static. It evolves. It’s okay to pivot when life’s circumstances change. At 22, your goals will likely look completely different from those of your 44-year-old self. That’s as much normal as it is healthy. Take time to reflect on what drives you now. What matters most in this particular life-stage? Aligning actions with purpose creates a deeper sense of fulfilment and direction.
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Play the Long Game
In today’s world, overnight success is often celebrated, but true success takes time. It’s the consistent effort, the daily grind, and the quiet persistence that build the firmest of foundations. Keep at it, even when you don’t see immediate results. The small steps taken now eventually accumulate. A dripping tap still fills a bath, after all. Success can often come when you least expect it, thanks to all the hard yards gone before.
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Imperfect Practice
Let’s be honest, waiting for perfection is the quickest way to kill progress. Striving for it leaves you feeling stuck. Instead, aim for progress. Whether it’s learning something new or taking the first step in a project, it’s all about getting started and course correcting as you go. Don’t let the fear of imperfection hold you back. Just do it! Start before you feel ready. Tweaks are fine along the way.
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Never Stop Learning
One of the most exciting things about life is that it’s a constant learning journey. Don’t ever think that you’ve reached the limit of what you can know or accomplish. Whether it’s gaining new skills, diving into a different field, or simply expanding your perspective, keep striving to learn and develop. Growth is a lifelong journey, and every bit of knowledge adds more strength to those foundations.
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Celebrate Your Strengths
It’s easy to overlook your unique strengths, especially when others are out there making big, often noisy, moves. Always remember how much you have to offer. The skills, experiences, and the lessons learned along the way are always worth celebrating. Embrace what makes you you. Recognise the value in everything you bring to the table. There’s so much power in acknowledging difference, and your worth.
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Surround Yourself with Positivity
Who you spend time with matters. Surround yourself with people who inspire you, uplift you, and challenge you to be better. Positive energy is contagious. When you’re around people who believe in you and support your growth, it becomes easier to believe in yourself. Be selective about who you allow into your inner circle—they should energise and encourage you, not drain or deplete you.
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Remain True to Yourself
It’s easy to fall into the trap of trying to live up to others’ expectations. The most fulfilling life is one where you live according to your own values. Success isn’t a “one-size-fits-all”. Define it on your own terms, whether that means taking an unconventional career path or making an unexpected career move, balancing work and personal life in a way that suits you, or taking the time to pursue something that truly excites you. Living authentically is not only empowering for you—it inspires others to do the same.
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Back Yourself
This is the biggie!! Believe in yourself. So often, waiting for the right moment or for someone else to validate certain ideas creates inertia. The hard truth is, if you don’t back yourself first, others will struggle to believe in you too. Take that first step, trust in your abilities. Go for it, even if you don’t feel 100% ready!! The more you do so, the more others will follow suit. Confidence breeds confidence after all.
As we celebrate International Women’s Day, consider each of these ten lessons and use them to fuel, and accelerate, action. The future is bright, and every step taken, no matter how small, makes a difference. By trusting ourselves, embracing opportunities, and staying true to our purpose, we can continue to create a world we want to see—a world where women are empowered to lead, grow, and thrive. Just as they – and you- should.
Here’s to taking action and making today the start of something extraordinary!
Go for it.
8 March 2025.