This past weekend I had the opportunity to attend the Hispana Leadership Summit in Miami, FL.  I was invited to attend by one of my client-friends, and, after overcoming several hurdles regarding childcare, transportation home from school for my children, and hunting for a white outfit after Labor Day, I was finally able to send in my RSVP that I would attend!

I left on Friday morning with the intention of learning how to hone my leadership skills, gathering information useful to growing my business, and having the opportunity to network with other successful and professional Latina women.  And, while I was able to do all of that, I was also pleasantly surprised by the unexpected benefits of having attended the summit and how they relate to having a loving, intimate relationship!

I have to admit, I love attending events and meetings that are focused on empowering women. I’ve found, however, that many of the meetings and conferences aimed at women professionals are solely focused on the sales/marketing, how-to-get-ahead aspects of running your own business or growing in your career.  Now, of course, there’s nothing wrong with that.  We all want to excel in our careers, and we all want to make a good living that allows us to have the lifestyle we desire and deserve.  But, often, the information shared in these types of meetings tend to address our more “masculine” side, and does not always allow for recognizing or celebrating the aspects about us women that make us different from our male counterparts: namely, our feminine nature.

Having the opportunity to learn leadership skills and practices that will help me grow my business was the reason I attended.  And the content presented by outstanding speakers and panelists was top-notch!  However, I was pleasantly surprised by the fact that almost every single one of the women who was on stage at some point mentioned her husband or boyfriend, her children and family, and the importance of the roles that we women play in those areas of our lives.  Women shared how the support of the men in their lives served to encourage and empower them to take the steps they needed to move ahead.  One woman shared how she had to “fire” her husband from her organization, because she didn’t want him to be her “employee.” What she wanted more than anything was to have him be her husband, and to be able to come home and just be herself with him. Another woman shared how her husband’s leadership skills were completely opposite, and, yet, complimentary to hers, making them the perfect team! Several women shared the delicate balance many of us have to find in order to be there for our children and not feel guilty when it comes to doing what we love in our careers.  And, more than anything, these women – powerhouses in their own right – were vulnerable and “real,” sharing their journeys – the ups and downs, the choices and mistakes, and the unexpected rewards and heartaches.

One of my favorite parts of the summit was the party on Friday night.  Picture this: About a hundred successful women, beautifully made up, all dressed in white, dancing to salsa, merengue, bachata, and pop music.  We made conga lines, did soul trains, and made circles so that we could each strut our stuff on the dance floor. We laughed, celebrated, and danced the night away.  There was a feeling of sisterhood, connection, and love in the room, and, to me, that was probably the most surprising part of it all: That feeling of connectedness and affinity for women – some who I had met previously, and others who were complete strangers.  I can attribute it to nothing more than the feminine power that was present throughout the weekend.

So, what does this have to do with having a healthy, happy, loving relationship? 

For one thing, it’s important that we recognize, honor, and celebrate our feminine nature – those aspects of ourselves that are unique to being a woman: the vulnerability, strength, and ability to connect heart-to-heart with another woman, simply because it is the nature of who we are! Another important factor is the feeling of sisterhood that comes when we surround ourselves with other women who encourage, support, and help us strive to become the best version of ourselves.  Being around other women helps strengthen our feminine nature. This is why maintaining strong friendships with other women – particularly those who are pulling for you to have a happy, loving relationship – is so vital! And, of course, we can not underestimate the importance of practicing self-care, having fun and doing things that are pleasurable and help us feel happy, peaceful and free to be who we are! Participating in activities that bring us pleasure raises levels of oxytocin and endorphins in our bodies, elevating feelings of peace, joy, and connection – all essential elements for creating a great relationship!

Several times during the weekend, and, especially, during the testimonials shared at the end of the conference, there were moments where tears were shed as people shared themselves openly and authentically.  And, you know what?  No one thought there was anything “wrong” or strange about it, because, being vulnerable is okay when you’re around other women.  They said at the end of the conference that word describing this conference was “reassured,” meaning that all of us left feeling reassured that we were on “the right path.”  I left reassured of something else, as well.  Not only did I leave feeling inspired and invigorated, ready to make a difference, and proud to be a woman and a Latina, but I left reassured in knowing that we women really CAN have it ALL!  We don’t have to sacrifice our careers to experience true love. Nor do we have to sacrifice love in order to achieve our dreams, do what we feel we are called to do, and make the difference we were created to make!

I am grateful to my friend for inviting me to attend the conference, to all of the women with whom I had the opportunity to speak, laugh, and share, and to everyone who made it possible for me to attend – a fellow school mom who drove my kids home, my mother who stayed over two nights so that I could leave early and come back late, and my amazing and supportive husband, who, after I went on and on for about an hour about everything that I experienced and learned at the conference, smiled, hugged me, and said, “I’m so glad you were able to go, Babe!  You’re baaaack!” And, I do feel like myself again – my amazing, successful, loving, feminine Self!

Do you have comments or questions regarding this topic?  Please feel free to share with us!  We love hearing from you!

Hispana Leadership Summit photo credit:  http://on.fb.me/ReXv91