Embrace your power and inspire others

Since morning, Mili (pseudonym) hasn't had a moment to rest. Waking up early, she barely finished preparing Shihab's (pseudonym) breakfast and packing his lunch box before it was time for her son's school. After waking her son, she got him ready for school and dropped him off, then she also took care of her mother-in-law through therapy. While doing all of these, Milli rushed to finish cooking and clean the house. She eats in the kitchen; doesn't know when the last time she could enjoy her meal peacefully. But it was not supposed to be like that, right? Mili wanted to study more. Her mother married her off, as she had been promised she could continue her studies. Her husband once told her to start her studies next year, but 'the next year' never came. Mili can't remember the last time she went out with her husband. Sometimes her husband shows disappointment when Mili does something she likes. Days are like that, with repeated work and a little appreciation and support. This is a common untold household story of our society. If we close our eyes, we can see countless 'Milis' all around us, only with a different context.

We must clarify one thing: life is not a battlefield. It is right to live a life full of freedom. We must understand that our lives belong to us. We grow up within societal myths that we are taught to accept as rules.

Many women believe that thinking about themselves or their own wishes may be a sin or crime. But in reality, this is the ultimate rule for living as a human being.

Valuing oneself does not just benefit the individual; it gradually makes everyone around them aware of the concept of dignity.

The first step toward this is self-respect. If you do not respect yourself or remain unaware of your own strengths and abilities, why should anyone else feel obligated to respect you?

If Mili had stood firm on her education from the very beginning instead of compromising with her husband, she would have finished her studies. It would have been difficult, certainly nothing worth having is easy. But by confining herself to a so-called 'safe zone' to keep others happy, she became her own first obstacle.

The greatest strength of a woman is her belief in herself. If she knows what she is capable of, she will reach her goal in the long run. The path in between is merely a period of preparation and hard work.

Confidence is a weapon that provides a guaranteed solution to every problem. One must say and believe, "I can, therefore I will." Whether it is gaining an education, managing a home, seeking a job, or raising a child, the first step is always self-confidence.

Mili represents just one sector, but these unwritten rules have become the norm in offices, educational institutions, and fields everywhere. Often, women themselves act as the silent enforcers of these norms without realising it.

One must be conscious of one's rights. You must recognise when they are being infringed upon and take responsibility for resolving or asserting their rights. Allowing oneself to be mistreated or deprived out of pure emotion is a form of self-injustice.

Women must stop viewing themselves as 'showpieces.' They must move forward by the light of their own virtues, knowledge, and compassion, taking their families, society, and the nation with them.

With positivity and a spirit of work, a woman can lead countless people forward. Every achievement is a milestone. Yet, standing at the dawn of the 21st century, we are still confused. "Can I do it?" "Is it right for me to do it?" "What will people say if I succeed?" These paralysing, common questions are the super enemies of women and of humanity.

Women must face these questions with a stout heart. Like a butterfly,  must fly from flower to flower, spreading messages of light, the fragrance of self-respect, and the news of self-justice. Like a bird that has belief in its own wings, we must say that "Your life is yours, and my life is mine. Let us live side by side ." Why is there such a struggle for superiority?

To build a beautiful world, we first need the spread of healthy, positive thinking and mutual respect. We must not hesitate to give others the respect they deserve, nor must we shrink away from claiming the respect we are owed.

Anyone pursuing a good cause will face obstacles; you will, too, and you must confront them like anyone else. See yourself as a human being first; do not confine your world by thinking of yourself only as a woman.

If you overcome these barriers in your own space, congratulations. But you have a greater duty: to uplift those around you. Help others to reach their goals, whether they are men or women. Help people simply because they are human.

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