Have you ever met women who inspire you by their very existence? These women just make you want to be around them. They have a way or style of living that expresses their complete faith and comfort in themselves and their abilities. What are the hallmarks of these women? What sets them apart from others?

1. She thinks for herself. She has learned how to feel, think, decide and act for herself. If she runs into an area of concern she asks for direction or help, but ultimately she decides for herself and follows her course of action. She doesn't blame others when things don't go as she had planned. She tries another path.

2. She doesn't mind taking risks. She doesn't put herself in danger but does allow herself to try new things and take risks that will teach her and challenge her.

3. These women take care of themselves. You see them at the gym, walking, hiking, biking, in the hair salons, or at the book stores. These women are good at caring for themselves almost knowing innately that they need to nurture themselves in order to nurture others.

4. These women don't have time to gossip or tear others down. They are busy with their own lives and their own enthusiasm for trying new things. They are ahead of their own time. You will see them in high school and they will stand out because they don't need to engage in "Catty behavior" to feel like they belong. They have an intuition that they already belong and they don't succumb to immature behavior to fit in. They are leaders and they lead with a sense of helping others feel good about themselves.

5. These women have an interest in the outside world. They don't try to limit their existence, but rather try to expand it. They are interested in how others do things, fee, and take care of their families. They are secure enough so they don't feel threatened by different cultures, no matter how different they are.

Who are these women? Look around. Maybe they are your friend, your mother, or maybe even you.