Editor’s Note: Be the Benchmark is a sponsor of chambanamoms.com.
Whether you like the book or not, we live in a world where “Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead” by Sheryl Sandberg needed to be written. Because the truth is women – teen women included – are still struggling with whether or not to be leaders, how this impacts other areas of their life and what they would even need to do if they DID want embrace their desire to lead.
As the founder of Be the Benchmark, which exists to inspire and equip pre-teen and teen girls to create lives that have impact far beyond their imagination, the book spurred my passion for empowering these young women to make their life everything they can dream of AND MORE, while reinvesting in the world around them in beautiful ways.
Since what we become starts with what we believe, and what we believe stems from the stories we tell ourselves, here are six awesome stories (in the form of songs) to set your daughter on the right path of confidence and success this school year!
SONG: Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)
ARTIST: Kelly Clarkson
WHAT THE LYRICS SAY: “What doesn’t kill makes you stronger, stand a little taller. Doesn’t mean I’m lonely when I’m alone. What doesn’t kill makes you fighter. Footsteps even lighter.”
WHAT SHE HEARS: Life (read high-school) isn’t always easy, but each adversity truly does make us stronger for the next time around.
SONG: Unwritten
ARTIST: Natasha Bedingfield
WHAT THE LYRICS SAY: “Live your life with arms wide open. Today is where your book begins. The rest is still unwritten.”
WHAT SHE HEARS: Your life will be what you make it – make it count; nothing that has happened yet has determined your future.
SONG: Corner of the Sky
MUSICAL: Pippin
WHAT THE LYRICS SAY: “So many men seem destined to settle for something small, but I won’t rest until I know I’ll have it all. So don’t ask where I’m going, just listen when I’m gone, and far away you’ll hear me singing softly to the dawn.”
WHAT SHE HEARS: Never settle. Dream big, set goals and then go for it – no matter where the road may take you.
SONG: Defying Gravity
MUSICAL: Wicked
WHAT THE LYRICS SAY: “I’m through accepting limits, ‘cause someone says they’re so. Some things I cannot change, but till I try, I’ll never know! “
WHAT SHE HEARS: There are no limits to what you can accomplish when you realize that there is no such thing as failure, only feedback on what doesn’t work. Get up, brush yourself off and start again.
SONG: Free To Be Me
ARTIST: Francesca Battistelli
WHAT THE LYRICS SAY: “ ’Cause I got a couple dents in my fender, Got a couple rips in my jeans. Try to fit the pieces together but perfection is my enemy. On my own I’m so clumsy, but on your shoulders I can see… I’m free to be me. “
WHAT SHE HEARS: It’s not always going to be smooth sailing, but you are free to be who you were created to be even with a few mistakes along the way.
SONG: I Hope You Dance
ARTIST: Lee Ann Womack
WHAT THE LYRICS SAY: “I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean. Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens. Promise me that you’ll give fate a fighting chance. And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance. I hope you dance.”
WHAT SHE HEARS: Keep perspective on where your life/problems fit into the bigger picture. Keep your eyes open for new opportunities/stay optimistic, and ALWAYS stay in the game.
After you have downloaded (You Tube’d, Pandora’d or Spotify’d) these awesome songs and had a dance party in your kitchen – be sure to check out Be the Benchmark’s fall kick-off event at the Champaign Public Library this Monday, September 9, 2013. There is no charge for this event, but an RSVP is required by Sunday, September 8, 2013.
Editor’s Note: This is a sponsored post, and chambanamoms.com was compensated for this content.