Reflections – JULY MEM

When I met up with Lilian Ong, the founder of Women of Courage Asia (WOCA) in end January/early February, and signed up as a community leader this year, I did so with the hope that this group would help me to garner a new confidence and purpose as a woman of faith and a business owner.

After attending their first Monthly Empowerment Meeting (MEM) in February at Mindchamps, I told myself it was the best decision I have ever made for my life.

Most of the events that I’ve attended were organised by industry experts to share knowledge on personal development and practical tips on managing a successful business.

MEM has been a different experience – a lot more authentic, a lot more feelings.
And even more so when we brought this experience online to women watching it from the comfort of their homes since March 2020.

Month after month, ordinary women like you and me with specialised knowledge and skills have stepped forward to contribute in their own ways.

They gave presentations that are relatable to our needs and struggles as working mothers, business owners, executives coping with the demands of the corporate world.

In July’s MEM, Sari Marsden gave us a precise take on how we should manage expectations more effectively with clarity in our communications so that we can go on to develop more fulfilling relationships with others and also ensure that we don’t experience the pain of unmatched expectations.

That message spoke so directly to the old me years old. The lack of clarity in the expectations of my relationship with my father, caused me to lose the chance of reconciling with him before he passed away.

I am not perfect, I am still working at creating clarity in the way I express myself as well as meet the needs of my expectations for others, and vice versa. Sari’s points gave me the morale boost I need to actively embrace this as a way forward to create the future I desire to have.

Story of Courage was another segment of MEM that touched my heart. Behind every success often tells a bittersweet story… where our struggles jolt us from our comfort zone and drive us to achieve the impossible dreams we once have.

Month after month, we have heard women sharing stories using the Victorious Model on how they overcome divorce, grief, guilt and depression to become a better, stronger version of themselves.

Nicole Tay’s story of courage in July’s MEM resonates with hundreds and thousands of women around the world affected by corporate decisions in manpower cuts.

She survived three retrenchments in her past 10 years with the corporate world.
The last one hit her hard like a death sentence. She was not spared even though she was pregnant at that time.

But with courage she stood up for her rights and persevered to recover from her trauma. Today, she is a highly successful coach in essential oils.

In fact, in MEMs, we do not just focus on speakers sharing stories. We encourage our attendees to share their own stories and reflections, not just privately at the breakout sessions but also openly at the main session.

In the Victorious Model segment where attendees are encouraged to share their own stories of victory, Joyce spoke of how she overcame her AADC condition with her faith and determination to continue her dream to go to university.

At the Open Mic segment, Jennifer felt encouraged by Sari’s speech to tell herself that she did not need to submit to an unhappy relationship with her spouse. Sharlyn was heartened by Nicole’s story as a reminder to stand for our rights even in the face of adversity.

That is the beauty of WOCA’s MEM. As human beings, we are often faced with the troubles of life. But it is the support from community groups like Women Of Courage Asia that gave us the shield we need to overcome life’s struggles.

With courage

Suzanne Loh
Community Leader