My name is...

This morning I was with a group of real live adult women.
You'd think with my job, I'd have my fill of time with women.
But, I don't often get to formally talk to them.
And while I love being with teenage girls and feel passionately about those opportunities, there was something really invigorating about openly and honestly sharing what I believe with a group of my peers.

I was asked to talk about "Understanding Your Divine Potential".

Interestingly, that is essentially the same topic I'm often asked to address with teenage girls.

Which got me thinking.

Are we, the "adult women", really that different from our younger counterparts?
Do we really know more than they do?
Do we understand any better who we are?

I think life does something to us.
I think on one hand, we do know more and we do undertand better--life's experiences help create deeper wells.
We've likely had more reasons to get on our knees and talk to our Father.
We've have more instances of needing to call upon the power of the Atonement.

But.

We've also known more disappointment and more heartache.
We've had more time to make mistakes and beat ourselves up.
We've failed more because we've attempted more.
Yes, life does something to us.

Teenage girls are just at the beginning of learning some of the things we already know but they are also just at the beginning of a life full of hope and dreams and happinesses that some of us have already lost.

Early on in our gathering I had the women write down the first word that came to their mind when they thought of themselves.
The very first word.
I saw the look on their faces, knowing that for some of them it was a painful exercise.
Later on I had them write one positive word they wanted to believe about themselves if they didn't already.
Then, I had them stand and introduce themselves using this word instead of their name.

The first woman stood and cried, needing to gain composure before she said,
"My name is heart."
The next woman said she didn't have anything written down and asked if she could pass.
"Of course," I said. "But, you can't leave here until you have written something down. You don't have to share it, but you owe it to yourself to write it down."
Something about the exercise struck a chord for her.

Then, one by one...
"My name is funny."
"My name is determined."
"My name is loving."
"My name is kind."
"My name is secure."
"My name is try."
"My name is healthy."
"My name is Mom."
"My name is pretty." (This woman added, "And it's taken me a long time to believe that about myself.")
And on and on.

I've done that little exercise with a group of teenage girls. And you know? I think in some ways it's easier for them.

While it is true that some of them struggle with their identity, a whole lot of them haven't yet been convinced by the world that they are anyone other than who they believe they are.

Like some of us have been convinced.

Life just does something to us.
But, I am oh so grateful for what life does.
And what it's teaching me.

*****

By the way, my name?
My name is courage.