To celebrate International Women’s Day we asked some of our favourite women to share their wisdom. We simply asked them: what do you want other women to know?

Fiori Giovanni
Speaker, coach, author

You already know so much, and possibly more than you give yourself credit for. Every life moment has left you with both an impression and a lesson, which has created a stream of intuition that runs freely through your veins. It’s like a river of warnings and insights that bathes your consciousness and swirls deep in your gut. Call upon it. Trust it. Deep down, you know the answers to your questions. Your intuition is your secret weapon that will keep you safe and thriving.

Many times we avoid confrontations out of fear of the repercussions. Even the word ‘confrontation’ has a negative connotation, but at its core, a confrontation is just about respectfully communicating your truth. So consider approaching a confrontation like this:  I feel < insert your emotion > About < insert the issue > Can we consider < insert a solution >

It’s not easy, but standing up for your truth is the most freeing gift you can give to yourself!  And if someone doesn’t want you be yourself and speak your truth, then that someone shouldn’t be in your circle in a first place. So don’t be afraid of confrontation.

Create a sacred, positive space around you, and be ruthless and relentless about protecting it. There is no guilt in loving someone from afar, including family and friends, if they are draining you of joy rather than filling you with it.

Be clear about the type of people you want in your life because their attitudes, values and behaviour will either have a positive or negative impact on your happiness.

If there’s only one thing you take away from this article, I hope it’s this:

One of the greatest sources of success and happiness in your adult life comes from being accountable.

The moment you blame others for events and feelings; you render yourself unable to change the situation because you’ve handed your power to someone else. If it’s in another person’s hands to make you angry or sad, it’s also in their hands to make you happy.  This means you’ve become a slave to their actions rather than a master of your own. Even if something happens that is out of your control, the next step still lies with you.

The solution to every problem rests with you.

Once you own your situation, you have the power to change it. Nothing changes when you do nothing. But amazing things happen when you take responsibility for your life, and take action.  Therefore, success and happiness come from being accountable.

Fiori is speaking at our International Women’s Day events around the country. Fiori’s bestselling book Defy Your Destiny is available at every good bookstore now, RRP $32.99.