On Letting Our Imagination Fly by Davinia Tomlinson

“What would you ask for if you knew the answer was going to be yes?”

This is the question I posed to the ladies in my group coaching programme a few weeks ago as we explored financial goal setting with a specific focus on liberating our minds from the, quite often, self imposed limitations we place on ourselves when it comes to pursuing our wildest dreams.

And it’s a question I return to this month as the 2021 campaign for International Women’s Day called on us to embody this years theme of Choose to Challenge. It’s a designated day which has morphed into a month for many of us, particularly those in women-centred businesses like mine, a day which typically commands the same love and attention as every other day: when you’re in the business of uplifting and championing other women, every day is a reason to celebrate.

But in the spirit of frank, honest debate, sometimes the celebration needs to be parked in favour of harsh reality.  We are positive yes, but not at the expense of truth. And the truth is the last year for women all over the world has been brutal, sparking so many things we could and should be challenging about the endemic inequality, injustice and hardship women face, challenges which have been compounded tenfold (I haven’t run the numbers, but it’s not good) over the course of the last 12 months.

It’s the reason why UN Women Executive Director, Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka commented that “Covid is not gender-neutral”, when women are so disproportionately affected on virtually every possible measure from health to income.

It’s a picture that can leave you flattened and questioning what this IWD/M is actually for. I hear you.

But I counter that this is time an opportunity for us to indulge in a little quiet reflection. To remind ourselves of what we can actually control.

I know I say this all the time, even to myself, but when last did you truly engage with it? Write it down? Build a plan to achieve it?

At this point, it’s less a nice bit of inspirational pep talk, and more a secret of survival.

Yes there is a pay gap, but are we making sure we always ask for the pay rise we deserve? (Assuming we do deserve it – spoiler alert: if we’re under-performing or it’s day 1 of a new job, perhaps we don’t? Other views welcome!)

Yes there is an investing gap but are we seeking out information to improve our financial knowledge and lean into the reality that when women do invest we actually do really, really well?

Are we supporting women-led businesses, sharing their content, becoming their customers, championing one another at work, buying books from new authors we follow on social media, gifting them to our friends and discussing them in our book clubs?

I include myself in this of course.

Because while there are all the gaps everywhere we turn, those micro contributions we make individually, make a hell of a dent in whatever we are trying to overcome collectively.

And yes, there are challenges against us, but are we taking the handbrake off our imagination, letting it fly and conceiving of our wildest dreams while we still have the chance? As children the possibilities we conceive of are limitless, placing us in the starring role. Yet over time, as we are trained through societal conditioning, convention and custom to inhibit ourselves in all aspects of our lives, that light that once shone so brightly, dazzling everyone we came into contact with as our most vibrant 4, 5 and 6 year old selves, dims leaving just a flicker in its wake.

But where there’s a flicker, and while we still have breath, we have the opportunity to challenge every aspect of our lives in the hope of achieving true fulfilment and ultimately, joy.

It’s the least we owe ourselves, don’t you think?

What are you choosing to challenge in your life?

Davinia is the founder of rainchq, a business she set up three years ago to help women build sustainable, long term wealth and live life entirely on their own terms.

She has over 15 years experience across the investment management and professional services industries including roles at Fidelity Investments and PwC.  Davinia has a First Class Honours degree from Aston University, an Executive MBA from Cass Business School and holds the Investment Management Certificate (IMC). 

Outside of rainchq, Davinia is a Trustee at Talawa Theatre Company, established more than 30 years ago to improve diversity in the arts. She has two young daughters and is currently living her island dreams in the Caribbean.

You can also follow Rainchq on the ‘gram here