As Women’s History Month unfolds, it’s essential to reflect on the journey of women in overcoming societal expectations and self-limiting beliefs, particularly in the realm of confidence and self-belief. Alessia Citro, a seasoned entrepreneur, certified life coach, and author of the upcoming book Higher Self Habits, sheds light on the critical role of habits in this transformative process.
Drawing from her experiences and research, Alessia highlights a poignant statistic from an internal Hewlett Packard study: while men often apply for promotions when they meet only 60% of the qualifications, women wait until they meet 100%. This discrepancy underscores a profound truth about confidence: men tend to trust in their ability to figure things out, while women often feel pressured to be perfect before stepping forward.
In light of these societal pressures and historical challenges, Alessia emphasizes the importance of habit formation as a catalyst for building confidence in women. The journey to self-assurance and empowerment, Alessia suggests, begins with the recognition that confidence is not a fixed trait but a skill that can be cultivated through intentional habits and mindset shifts.
At the core of Alessia’s message is the notion that habits shape identity and vice versa. Habits can help individuals with confidence, which in turn can help them shift and upgrade their identity. However, going inward and upgrading identity first makes stopping and starting habits easier. By deliberately cultivating habits that promote self-awareness, self-assessment, and positive self-affirmation, women can gradually shift their internal narrative from one of self-doubt to one of self-assurance. Alessia’s approach encourages women to embrace imperfection, take calculated risks, and persist in the face of setbacks, all of which are foundational habits for building confidence and resilience.
One of the key insights Alessia shares is the concept of the “imperfect action.” Rather than waiting until they feel fully qualified or prepared, Alessia encourages women to take imperfect action – to lean into discomfort and uncertainty and trust in their ability to learn and grow along the way. This mindset shift, she argues, is essential for breaking free from the paralyzing grip of perfectionism and embracing the messy, iterative process of personal growth.
Alessia’s upcoming book, Higher Self Habits, offers a comprehensive framework for women seeking to cultivate confidence and self-belief in their lives. Through a blend of neuroscience, behavioral science, basic quantum principles, and spirituality, Alessia provides practical strategies and actionable insights for developing habits that support personal growth and empowerment. From morning routines to mindset exercises, the book offers a roadmap for women to rewrite the narrative of their own capabilities and step boldly into their potential.
As we celebrate Women’s History Month, Alessia Citro’s insights serve as a beacon of empowerment, guiding women on a path toward realizing their fullest potential and rewriting the script of their own history. By embracing the power of habit formation and cultivating a mindset of courage and resilience, women can break free from the constraints of self-doubt and step confidently into the roles and opportunities they aspire to. In Alessia’s words, “Within each of us lies the same innate intelligence that can transform an acorn into a towering oak tree. You have everything within you right now to become the person you know you were created to be. You simply need to believe it’s true and begin taking aligned action towards that version of you.” As such, Alessia leaves the following top tips for Women’s History Month to get started on their empowerment journey.
Follow the 5-Stage Higher Self Habits Method for lasting transformation:
- Begin with awareness. Introspection is always the place to start. What needs to change within? Why? What beliefs are holding you back? What else could be true?
- Align to your desired identity and future. When you envision your future self and do so with elevated emotion, you are creating a quantum blueprint for your vision to materialize in reality. Know why becoming a better version of you matters deeply to you, the ones you love, and society as a whole to create powerful emotional backing to your desires.
- Audit your life. What do you need to stop, start, and continue? What in your world needs to change for you to access next-level you? Take inventory of your environment(s), relationships, where and how you spend your time, and what you consume physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
- Activate. When starting new habits, start as small as possible. Typically, beginning with habits that benefit you physically is the best place to start, such as hydration, nourishment, sleep, etc. If your initial habit is better hydration, how can you create a small habit of drinking one more glass of water a day and then laddering up from there? Quick wins boost your confidence and expand your capacity to take on more challenging behaviors. Just like you wouldn’t expect a baby to walk before crawling, habits also need to start with the fundamentals.
- Ascend & Amplify. When you begin rising, you will project a higher frequency and expanded energy into the world. Others will feel it, and it will help lift them up too. As your capacity and confidence grow, you’ll unlock new levels of awareness and a greater vision, and the process begins again. Welcome to your upward spiral.
Alessia’s impact extends beyond her upcoming book, as she actively engages with her community through workshops, speaking engagements, and coaching programs designed to support women in their personal and professional growth journeys. Through her podcast, inhabit, Alessia provides a platform for women to share their stories of triumph and transformation, fostering a sense of solidarity and empowerment within her community.
In addition to her work as an author and coach, Alessia is a vocal advocate for gender equality and empowerment in the workplace. She partners with organizations to deliver workshops and training programs aimed at cultivating inclusive leadership and fostering environments where women feel empowered to thrive.
One of her clients, founder of Social Squeeze, Jenny Burnham had only praise for her elegant system stating: Since starting the [Higher Self Habits] program, I’ve made so many changes to my everyday life that have been wildly impactful. I have read all the habit books from male authors and done tons of personal development, but nothing has stuck until this! As a female entrepreneur with ADHD, much of the personal development/business world has left me feeling like a failure. Alessia’s approach is such a breath of fresh air- she gives tactical simple tweaks to truly change habits in a sustainable way that works for my unique self!
As Alessia continues to champion the power of habit formation in empowering women, her message resonates as a call to action for women everywhere to embrace their potential, rewrite their stories, and step boldly into the future. In the words of Alessia herself, “Stepping into our Higher Selves isn’t always easy, but it is always worth it. When the going gets tough, pause for a moment and remember all those who have come before you and will come after you, and know that taking another step forward will create a positive ripple that helps others and comes back around. Feel, too, that you are always being lifted by another, even though you may not know whom.” All are welcome to learn more about Alessia and her work to empower all women by simply visiting her official website as well as her Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, and LinkedIn accounts.
