By Mary Foley

Successful, 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 suggesting that you ease into a gutsy life by trial runs; smaller challenges, then work outward from there.

For example, let's say next time you eat out, you order something you've never eaten before.  How do you know if you don't like sushi if you've never tried it? Honestly, I thought raw fish was kind of creepy and gross until I gave it a shot.  Nowadays I don't even do the rice part.  I go straight for the fish - or eel or octopus - by itself with some "open my sinuses right up" green wasabi sauce.  From a woman who still thinks most cooked fish tastes too fishy, this is an amazing thing.  I never would've known I liked the stuff unless I took a risk and gave it a try.

Now let's suppose - just suppose - that I didn't like sushi after all.  Sitting in front of me is a whole plate of circles of rice and fish, and after the first taste I just want to throw up.  What's a gal to do?  Well, a good girl would pick at it, maybe force a few more bites down, and offer to share it with others.  Goodness knows she couldn't admit she hates the stuff and is dreaming about raiding the Krispy Kreme doughnuts when she gets home.

Rewind the tape and insert a Bodacious Woman.  She finds she doesn't like sushi, either.  But, thinking strategically, she only ordered an appetizer portion just in case things didn't work out.  If she liked it, she knew she could order more.  Instead of feeling guilty that she took a risk, she quickly admits the results of her experiment:  Sushi sucks according to her taste buds.  She orders something else.  Maybe she spends an extra ten bucks.  Big whoop.  That's a small price to pay for exercising her bodaciousness.

Taking a risk to order a new food is one thing.  It's fun and good practice.  Taking a risk regarding something of greater consequence really challenges your tolerance of "yikes!" Let's say you've been asked to speak in front of the adult group where you worship, or you need to talk to the childcare director about why your child is suddenly obstinate, you want to ask your manager to pay for you to attend an industry conference, or you want to leave your job to pursue your dream of starting your own business.  Now you're getting uncomfortable!

If you try to do any of these things, you could experience what you want to avoid more than cellulite:  Failure.  Well, of course, you might fail!  Why did you think you were so uptight in the first place?

But, you're thinking about it the wrong way.  What if you thought about it this way:  Failure is not trying.  Failure is letting your fears be in charge and hold you back.

Giving something a shot that doesn't work out as planned doesn't mean you're a failure.  No way!  It means you're a Bodacious Woman demonstrating her guts and courage.  It means you are grateful for your time on this planet and don't want to waste it.  It means you embrace the idea that so much of what's exciting in life lies in trying new experiences.  Missteps or mistakes you can rebound and recover from.  But a life of not trying is simply one filled with regret.  With or without cellulite.  So there!

Image:  Copyright, Bodacious! Ventures

By Mary Foley

Do you ever feel like Wonder Woman?  I'm not talking the Linda Carter or cartoon character kind

I'm talking about today's Wonder Woman - the woman who has so much going on she wonders what the heck happened to her life! Between all the roles we play as women - wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, taxi driver, counselor, teacher, nurse, social director, event planner, buyer, accountant, volunteer, pet care provider, gardener, maid, cook, lover, cereal-embedded-in-the-car seat detector, and more - it's no wonder most of us feel stressed and about to lose it.  And yet we can't lose it because we're often the glue that holds marriages, families, work groups, and communities together.

So, how do you keep your red cape flying?  First, you've got to go from being a Wonder Woman to a Bodacious Woman - a woman who isn't trying to do or be everything or everybody, but who has the courage to be in charge of her own life and lovin' it!

As a Bodacious Woman you can still wear a red cape and feel like a superhero.  Here are five fun tips to keep your red cape flying!

Tip #1: Do What Super Models Do - Get a Fan!

Sometimes conditions aren't cooperative and you have to create your own breeze to keep your red cape flying.  Super models do it at photo shoots, why not you?  We all know that necessity is the mother of invention - and re-invention.  So, when Plan A for your day doesn't work, be flexible to devise a Plan B, C, D or however many plans it takes!  Be creative, keep at it, and use your fan as necessary.

Tip #2:  Always Be on the Lookout for a Breeze

That's breeze, not fabreeze, just to be clear!  Superheroes are usually tackling hard stuff that mortal humans often can't - like holding up falling buildings, stopping bullets with their palms, rescuing a child from raging waters, stuff like that.  It's as if they LOOK for difficulty!  Though that's admirable, there's no shame in looking for ways to make your day easier, not harder.  Like accepting another mom's offer to pick up your child, delegating a project task to a new team member, or rescheduling a meeting that's suddenly a challenge to make.  When you look for small opportunities to make your daily activity load a bit lighter, a bit breezier, your red cape flies with ease.

Tip #3:  Avoid Hurricanes, Tornadoes, or Gale Force Winds

Sounds rational, but how often do you take on so much that you are creating your perfect storm?  You know you have 24 hours in a day, but you say "yes" like you have 240!  To keep your red cape flying, get in the habit of saying "no" - first to yourself and then to others.  "No" to yet another volunteer project, "no" to the 29^th cute top when you still haven't had a chance to wear the 28 ones you already have, and "no" to doing a task that clearly belongs to your co-worker.  In fact, "no" is one of my top five empowering words for women of all time.  It can be yours, too.  And, if an outright "no" feels a bit harsh, try "not now", "let me get back to you" or my new fave "my red cape is at the cleaners."  More about that below.

Tip #4:  Fly with other Red-Caped Bodacious Women

I'm convinced that there is no way any superhero can truly be super without some super friends who are willing to fly with her.  They are the wind beneath your red cape, so to speak.  As if you need it, here's proof why.  According to a landmark UCLA study on friendship among women, when women get together something magical happens.  A hormone called oxytocin is released into our blood steam, which causes us to feel supported and safe.  Our bodies begin to relax and our stress starts to melt away.  No wonder we always feel lighter and better able to handle life's problems after connecting with girlfriends.  To think all this time I thought it was the wine!

Tip #5:  Sometimes Your Red Cape is at the Cleaners

You don't have to be a superhero all the time.  Really, you don't.  And it's good that you're not because the other people in your life need to do their part.  But, if your red cape is never at the cleaners, they often don't chip in - or can't because you don't let them.  Plus, a dirty, stained cape is a terrible look.  No matter your age, your mamma would not be happy and you know it.

Image by Bodacious! Ventures