Oprah. Mother Teresa. Shirley Chisholm. Wangari Maathai. Eleanor Roosevelt. Grace Hopper. Dr. Mae C. Jemison.  

What did all these women have in common?

They all walked in their brilliance. And the world is a better place for it.

This month is Women’s History Month. Many of the women who are celebrated during Women’s History Month are celebrated not just for their success, but for how they defined success. 

What does it mean to “walk in your brilliance?”

Walking in your brilliance means doing work that matters to you.

There are plenty of people who have big titles—and the big paychecks to match—but who go to work every day feeling as though what they do doesn’t really matter. According to a 2020 Gallup poll, only 20 percent of employees feel engaged with their jobs. But that doesn’t mean that’s the way we want to work. In fact, Generation Z has made it clear that they want more from their careers.

When Recruiter.com surveyed Gen Z-ers, they found that 69 percent said it was important to them to find a job that is personally fulfilling and 87 percent reported that they would choose a meaningful career over high earnings.

Walking in your brilliance means tapping into your soul.

It’s easy to fall into the trap of doing what you believe you “should” do. You should take the safe job. You should please other people. You should meet family expectations. You should cling to that idea of yourself that you’ve had since kindergarten. 

Granted, you can rack up a lot of success by following your “shoulds.” But at what price? One thing I’ve learned is that “shoulds” will suck the life from your soul. “Shoulds” produce short-term rewards, but they’re less likely to produce long-term, sustainable success or fulfillment. Impact on the world around us happens only when you lead from the seat of your soul, when you’re operating from a place of purpose and not just a paycheck.

Walking in your brilliance means connecting to what’s important to you—and then having everything you do reflect that.

Alignment is key. When your talents, passion, purpose, and environment are in complete alignment, anything is possible. When you’re in alignment, you magnify the power of your natural gifts and talents. They become greater than the sum of their parts.

Walking in your brilliance means showing up as your authentic self.

It’s stressful to go to work every day and feel that you have to pretend to be someone else. Women and women of color, in particular, shoulder the immense weight of the emotional labor needed just to fit in. And here’s the thing: employers benefit when their employees feel comfortable enough to express their real purpose and passion at work. Leaving those things at home also means leaving a lot of creativity and great ideas at home, too. 

Walking in your brilliance means choosing or creating the environment you need to thrive.

Oprah became a household name after she created her own television show. If the environment you’re in is holding back your brilliance—whether that’s work, home, relationships, friends—you have to summon the courage to make an environment that supports you. If you need to develop skills and your job isn’t providing that opportunity, find a volunteer opportunity where you can. If the folks in your network can’t see your true potential, start adding people who can.

Walking in your brilliance means deploying grit and grace.

There’s a reason why flight attendants tell you to put on your own oxygen mask first before helping someone else. As women, we’re told to “lean in” if we want professional success. But leaning in isn’t the same as emptying out. I don’t wear exhaustion as a badge of honor anymore, and neither should anyone else. Grit has to be balanced with grace—with self-compassion and self-care.You can’t shine with a burned-out light bulb. 

Walking in your brilliance means believing in your own greatness.

Some people stumble into the history books. But others make history by believing in their purpose and passion even when others did not. You don’t have to wait for someone else to see greatness in you before you decide to do great things. You don’t need a permission slip to pursue what’s important to you and what speaks to your soul.     

Walking in your brilliance is not just about doing well. It’s about achieving a level of success that is both gratifying and transformative. It’s about using your power to elevate you, your company, and your community. It’s about making an impact on the world. Mother Teresa humanized the suffering of the poor. Oprah helps people to live their best lives. Dr. Mae C. Jemison showed young black girls that they, too, could be astronauts. This is what it looks like to walk in your brilliance.

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Every week in March, I’m giving away two free VIP Tickets to the 3rd Annual Grit+Grace with Cheryle Virtual Conference. Enter the drawing at @g2Coach by sharing in the comments what it means to you to walk in your brilliance!