Wild Berry. That’s the name of my favorite nail color. To me, it says fun, bold, sexy, and just simply makes my fingers and hands look so good. It’s a funny name for a nail polish, but then, so many women’s cosmetics have funny names. There’s Mango Spice lipstick, Roaring Red blush, and Whispering Mist eye shadow.

Just saying these words makes me think of walking along the beach on a tropical island wearing a flowered sarong, matching top, and the perfect makeup to highlight my features against the setting sun . . . while George Clooney comes running toward me!

Oh, how the mind gets going! I so very much want to live like my nail color—full-up on passion and feeling alive! Take me away, Wild Berry!

Now I know that painting my nails Wild Berry, or any color, for that matter, won’t magically create this alive sensation. To feel that way has to come from within. Only after I’ve connected with, nurtured, and allowed myself to release my passion for life can I truly be Wild Berry. Starting on the inside is the starting point for living up to my nail color.

Who knew there was so much to learn from a nail color?! Who knew that when I started my young adult life as an $8-an-hour customer service representative at America Online, I would rise through the ranks, get married along the way, and discover in myself the desire to be much more like my nail color than I ever expected?

My internal good girl was aghast! But my inner Bodacious Woman was starting to push her way to the forefront. Good thing, too, because personally and professionally, life would knock me around a bit and test just how much I wanted to be “wild” about taking care of myself as well as my future.

And I’m not alone. Many women struggle to feel good about themselves and their lives. Perhaps you’re one of them. You’ve wanted to feel like your nail color, but you’ve had fears or guilt or pressure in your life to stay put and not cause waves. Been there, done that, and it’s not a fun time!

In my own struggle, there were times when I wanted to feel like Wild Berry, but I felt more like Wet Leaves. In time, though, I found another way, a way that affirmed my existing internal strength and enabled me to get stronger, wiser, healthier, and be a whole lot more fun! I call it the Bodacious Way.

What does bodacious really mean? I love asking that question! I’ve heard everything—wild, colorful, spontaneous, energetic, strong, fearless, courageous, assertive, open, free, gutsy, tenacious, confident, and positive. Being bodacious became a personal rallying cry during my demanding “decade of adrenaline” when I worked for AOL and tried to create a healthy marriage. Being bodacious gave me courage to make choices, small and large, that were good for me. Being bodacious gave me the courage to take risks. And on hard days, being bodacious gave me the courage to put one foot in front of the other.

Out of this experience, I came up with my own definition of bodacious: the courage to be in charge of your life! Being in charge of your life starts with being authentic with yourself, about who you are and what you want. It then takes courage to follow through. Courage is something that never goes out of style because contrary to what the media says, ultimately, life isn’t a fashion show. Shocker, I know.

To help women wrap their heads around what it looks like to live bodaciously, I created my easy to remember Bodacious Woman Mantra. I like to think of it as four phrases that can change your life!

Look Within.
Think Strategically.
Act Bodaciously.
Love Every Minute of It.
Bodacious Women know that all the skills, techniques, and savvy in the world won’t stick until you improve the quality of your inner messages. What you say to yourself is a major tool in building a fabulous life. That’s why the Bodacious Woman Mantra starts by looking within.

Looking within means trusting your inner voice and means that you first have to listen to what’s going on inside you. If you listen carefully, your inner voice will help you determine how you feel about yourself and what you want. Looking within also means protecting yourself from self-esteem busters. Unfortunately, our culture tends to confuse self-esteem with self-absorption or just plain selfishness, and this confusion leads women to be discouraged about taking care of themselves

Part two of the Bodacious Mantra is to think strategically. You can’t decide how to get where you’re going until you decide where you are going and why. Well, duh. But how many times do we race off in the morning going from one thing to another until we drop? Those days turn into weeks, and weeks turn into months or years. So, here’s the big question: Do you know what you want? Or are you simply moving in the direction you believe you were supposed to? Good girls don’t ask themselves such questions and just go along for the ride. Bodacious Women consider the messages they received growing up and then determine what’s right for them.

There’s no doubt in my mind that living bodaciously starts on the inside by looking within and thinking strategically. But at some point, you need to go public! It’s time to act bodaciously for all the world to see. Acting bodaciously involves saying what you want and taking risks, which is often something good girls aren’t comfortable doing. Maybe you’re thinking that it’s not “nice” to say so directly what you want. It feels a bit harsh. Consider this: It’s not “nice” to so muffle your communication that others don’t know what you want and don’t have a chance to positively respond, which leaves the both of you frustrated and full of blame. Bodacious Women know you’re doing everyone involved a favor.

When it comes to taking risks, Bodacious Women know that to get anywhere in life takes risk. They also know that the biggest risk is not taking one at all. I’m not talking reckless risks. I’m talking the kinds of things you need to do to reach your goals. And remember, giving something a shot that doesn’t work out as planned doesn’t mean you’re a failure; it means you’re a Bodacious Woman demonstrating her guts and courage.

As you continue to live the Bodacious Woman Mantra, I’ve got one last piece of advice: love every minute of it! Learn to love the ups and the downs. Laugh and play along the way, and life will never get boring. Hold on to your hats, Bodacious Women, the ride has just begun! Personally, I don’t think the sky is falling, but life is definitely changing dramatically, and that can increase our feelings of insecurity and chaos. To stay energized and engaged, you’ve got to be serious about not being so serious! Be play-full. Laugh as much as possible, and find the humor that’s begging to be discovered.

So, there you have it, the Bodacious Woman Mantra. By practicing this Mantra, you’ve decided to face your internal good girl. You’ve started trying new behaviors. And you’re feeling more authentic, more powerful, and more alive because of it. Don’t let it stop there! Keep growing in your bodaciousness, and remember to do what we all need to do—bring others along!

** This article is one of 101 great articles that were published in 101 Great Ways to Improve Your Life. To get complete details on “101 Great Ways to Improve Your Life”, visit http://www.selfgrowth.com/greatways2.html.

Author's Bio: 

During a successful, demanding rise through the ranks of a 10-year career with America Online, Mary learned that the only way to thrive in today’s world is to be bold, positive, and courageous—bodacious! Today, Mary, author of Bodacious! Woman: Outrageously in Charge of Your Life and Lovin’ It, inspires women everywhere to be bodacious in their lives, careers, and businesses. You can be inspired, too! Get a free copy of Mary’s e-book How to Be Courageously in Charge of Your Life and Lovin’ It at http://www.gobodacious.com!