What makes a strong woman?

I’m always on the lookout for books that can inspire me and my readers. I am lucky to have found one particular book which caught my eye right away. It is What Makes A Strong Woman: 101 Insights from Some Remarkable Women from Helene Lerner.

As the founder of the popular website www.womenworking2000.com, Helene made a survey of "What Makes A Strong Woman" and was so excited with the response she got from corporate women, politicians, students, homemakers and many others.

She says that from their responses, it is clear that a woman’s strength is not just one-dimensional. Reason, emotion and spirit moved these women forward when the odds were stacked against them.

What makes a strong woman? For me, a strong woman is someone who is true to herself and accepts her strengths and weaknesses. She knows she can’t do it all. She knows she has limitations. She knows she is far from perfect and yet that is okay. She looks in the mirror and likes what she sees. That for me is a strong woman. 

Here are what some of these women said:

• A strong woman is compassionate, decisive, creative, innovative, organized, thoughtful, knowledgeable and above all, recognizes her weakness along with her strength. – Barbara Koster, a chief information officer

• She must be able to make a decision. She can take advice. She can take a vote. But, above all, she must be able to stand by her decision. She will win respect, which is much more important than the approval. – Sophie Hersh, events coordinator

• She does not do what is comfortable. She does what is necessary. – Jan Marineau, superintendent

• She follows her heart regardless of what popular culture says. That is what sets her apart and makes her strong. – Dawn Anderson, purchasing specialist

• A strong woman doesn’t need stilettos to stand tall. – Anjali Saxena, student

• She may not think of herself as strong but as endlessly capable. – Bernadette Doerr, senior consultant

• It means recognizing that it is impossible to be strong all the time. – Sally Franser, student

• Being a strong woman is not a single dimension. At times, it means having the confidence and courage to take risks. At times, it means being a calm presence or source of stability in the midst of chaos and crisis. Being a strong woman is to know that often your strength comes from the people close to you supplying you with the power to simply be who you are. – Joyce Roché, president/CEO of Girls Inc.

• She knows her imperfections are what make her beautiful. – Candice Itokazu, cosmetologist

• A strong woman can lift a minimum of 20 pounds, be a dedicated mother to her children, work a full-time job, continue her education, shop for groceries, wash clothes, ride her bicycle, cook dinner, do homework, pay the bills and talk to friends and family all in one day. – Lisa Mc Allister, executive director of American Red Cross-Texas

• Like a boxer, a strong woman may dodge a feint, but she does not faint. She may go down for the count, but she is up by seven to go to work. – Constance Kelly, fundraiser

• You gain strength, courage and confidence by energy experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, "I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along. You must do the thing you cannot do." – Eleanor Roosevelt

• She does not always win the race, but she always runs in it. – Cheryle Messer

• A strong woman takes risks, takes compliments and tries not to take herself too seriously. – Lindsey Pollak

• She is first in line to unload the huge delivery truck even though she’s in heels and wearing an expensive suit. – Janice De Angelis, director of Education and Training American Red-Cross-Ohio

• A strong woman can carry her laptop, breast pump, gym bag, diaper bag and purse all at the same time. – Kim Lowe, managing editor-MSN Travel, Microsoft Corp.

• She can smile each and every day knowing that the office is in chaos. – Kenya Taylor, default specialist GMAC Mortgage Corp.

• When people keep telling you that you can’t do a thing, you kind of like to try it. – Margaret Chase Smith, former senator from Maine

• A strong woman can reach the top not by shoving people aside, but by leading the way. – Diana Hanchett, a volunteer manager of American Red-Dross in Kansas

• She asks for help from her sister friends — I’ve learned the hard way there’s no superwoman. – Jacqui Hughes, senior campaign manager

• She obeys God in all things, even when she doesn’t understand. – Juanita Potts, banker

• Strong women cry at injustice, rise above it and challenge the status quo. A strong woman is still a feminist, forever a humanist and will only push herself harder when told. It will never happen. – Lauren Curatols, student

• A strong woman loves courageously. –Tiffany Jackson, actress

• Our power lies in claiming it and acting accordingly. – Helene Lerner, author