Last week, I had an experience that brought this lesson right to the front. It reminded me why so many women struggle to stand in their power. And you can forget about this being just a nice idea!
I want to begin with a little of my own story. Not so long ago, I found myself standing in front of a county court judge. I challenged his jurisdiction. I challenged his authority to administer on my behalf. At the time, I had no idea what I was doing. I did prepare, but not enough. Something inside me refused to simply comply with a construct I had learned was false. Looking back, I realise that had I known then what I know now, chances are I would have shut him down completely.
That experience showed me something powerful: standing in your power isn’t about fighting, aggression, domination, or attacking. Rather, what you are doing is holding your ground calmly, questioning authority without collapsing into fear, and refusing to hand over your sovereignty.
And this is exactly what too many women give away, especially when it comes to their health.
What Standing in Your Power Is (And What It’s Not)
Standing in your power is:
Speaking what you know to be true with clarity and calm.
Not taking things personally.
Engaging in reasoned debate instead of emotional reactivity.
Asking questions when something doesn’t sit right.
Standing in your power is not:
Shouting louder than the other person.
Attacking or belittling others.
Getting defensive, offended, or taking things to heart.
Blindly accepting what someone in ‘authority’ says just because they wear a white coat, a suit, or a title.
Translating This to the Doctor’s Office
Take a very real scenario: you’re sitting in front of a medical professional and they recommend a hysterectomy. If you don’t want your womb removed, you must stand in your power.
|You might calmly ask:
“What else can be done?”
“If there’s nothing else, is that because you don’t know enough or don’t have the skill set to do otherwise?”
“Or is it because the system incentivises you to recommend a hysterectomy? Have you been offered a cash bonus or financial incentive for this?”
Yes: ask that question.
You’re not being controversial or disrespectful. You are simply clarifying whether invasive, irreversible surgery is the only option, or if its the easiest, most profitable, or most convenient for them.
And if a doctor tells you natural remedies don’t work? Push further:
“Is that because natural remedies truly don’t work, or because women have not been given the knowledge to understand their bodies well enough to apply them effectively?”
Your power is in the questions.
The last thing you want to do is walk out of that office in silence, nodding along, while inside you’re screaming “This doesn’t feel right.”
Yes, your doctor is a skilled professional. Respect that. But never forget… you live in your body 24/7. You are the one with the deepest experience of it. And no amount of medical training overrides that fact. Period! (pun intended)
Why People Attack You for Standing Your Ground
If you stand your ground and someone attacks you; whether it’s a doctor, a judge, a colleague, or even a loved one, remember this: it’s rarely about you.
Most of the time, it’s their ego. Their sense of authority, their belief that their position gives them superiority. When you don’t fold, you expose their fragility. And instead of self-reflection, they lash out.
Once you can see this clearly, you’ll never again feel the need to take it personally. You’ll hold the upper hand.
Developing the Skill of Power
Standing in your power is not something you perfect overnight. It’s a muscle you build; and the truth is, it often develops through tough challenges. Som you either rise to meet them or you crumble under them.
Every clash is an opportunity. You can either take the lesson, or you can walk away weaker.
5 Ways to Stand in Your Power
Ask better questions
Don’t accept answers at face value. Probe. Clarify. Challenge assumptions.Stay calm under pressure
Your composure is your strength. The louder someone gets, the quieter you can become.Detach from ego battles
Their reaction is not about you. It’s about them. Don’t absorb it.Respect expertise but own sovereignty
Professionals have knowledge. But you are the authority over yourself. Never hand that over.Practice in small situations
Power is built in everyday moments: setting boundaries, saying no, asking why. These moments are your training ground for bigger ones.
Why This Matters Now
Too many women are waiting; waiting for the government to do something, waiting for the medical system to catch up, waiting for God to swoop in and save you.
Stop waiting!
Standing in your power doesn’t mean you’ll have all the answers immediately. It means you’ll have the courage to demand and uncover then, then take action from a place of strength as opposed to fear.
You are more powerful than you’ve been led to believe. The pieces of the puzzle are there, you just haven’t been shown how to put them together yet.
But once you do, you’ll never give your power away again.
So, the next time someone tries to speak over you or decide for you, will you shrink back or will you stand in your power?
