Women encouraged to invest in themselves this Women’s Month
August is the time of the year when we celebrate South African women and honour them for the role they played in leading our country towards democracy.
In the lead up to this year’s woman’s month, insurer, Liberty is encouraging South African women to invest in themselves.
At a woman’s day media breakfast hosted by Liberty in Johannesburg last week, Liberty experts and columnist and international speaker, Zipho Sikhakhane shared inspiring insights in an effort to educate and encourage South African women to fully embrace the importance of holistic wellbeing.
Restoring balance to a demanding lifestyle
Dr Belinda Dias, Liberty’s Medical Officer shared her views on how to bring balance in the life of a working mother. “Women need someone to rely on for the times when they cannot do it themselves. A network of sisters is one way to help bring balance.”
Shani Erwee, Head of Insights at Liberty added that the biggest risks facing women in South Africa was themselves. “We want to be the perfect friend, wife and mother. When we don’t live up to the expectations, we beat ourselves up about it. This is the biggest risk because it impacts our happiness and can have a knock on effect on everyone around us.”
Erwee continued, “to overcome this, we need to understand what we can and can’t do. Be kind to yourself. Prioritise what is important to you and your well-being. Look after yourself, your body and mind.”
Effective self-leadership
In her keynote address, Zipho Sikhakhane said investing in ‘self’ is effective self-leadership. She explained that the term investing, originally meant ‘clothing fully and completely’, “Who better to do that than a woman?” she said.
According to Sikhakhane, by increasing the level of self-awareness women can find the leader living inside themselves. “We need to know what makes us unique. We need to understand our sources of strength. What makes you different is a source of strength, not an inadequacy.”
She says, “Have courage, put yourself out there and be more courageous. We need to rewire our minds and stop conforming to society. Let’s change how we behave and not be influenced by others. Drop the imposter syndrome and be true to who you are.”
Financial understanding and planning
Certified Financial Planner Palesa Tlholoe emphasised the importance of seeking financial guidance from a Financial Planner, Adviser or Broker. “All three are professionals and will guide you on your financial journey,” she said.
“The perception that a Financial Adviser is only for the wealthy is a major misconception. You need an Adviser the moment you earn an income,” added Liberty Financial Adviser, Boitumelo Mothoagae.
“You also need to have a Last Will and Testament in place. Keep all your policies and important documentation in a life file and let someone you trust know where it is kept,” said Faeeza Khan, Legal Specialist at Liberty.
Liberty understands that modern women juggle the challenges of work, family and personal finances, often neglecting their personal well-being. This Woman’s Month, take a moment to revisit your personal well-being and restore balance to your important life.
