I started to work on a blog post a few weeks ago called Sisterhood. Then, something astonishing happened. Just when I held my Inner Circle gathering live here in Switzerland, I felt compelled to speak out about something.

There was an atmosphere of frustration and I really felt that the women in the circle wanted to speak out.

To no longer hold back. With the support of our Inner Circle, it had to be addressed.

The time has come to speak out!

A few days later, the story broke about Harvey Weinstein and his behaviour against young, vulnerable women. Hundreds I would assume.

No one was safe from him. Not even children of famous and influential parents like Gwyneth Paltrow.

Like in our little Inner Circle, the overpowering Energy in the air could no longer be ignored.

We wanted to speak out and stand up for each other.

To stop this disgusting, inappropriate, inexcusable behaviour once and for all.

No longer will we or should we ever tolerate, understate, or downplay this abuse of power.

Being silent is no longer an option

What came out very clearly in our discussion at the Circle was the frustration. The feeling of being powerless and the shame the women felt who did stay silent.

It could only be described as a Energetic Power that needed to be freed.

It felt almost like a generation of women speaking up and pouring out there frustrating encounter with bullying men.

Nearly all of us had such encounters.

From abuse of ppower to sexual harassment.

It felt like we could no longer hold back, be silent, or just view it.

It was this overpowering Energy in the room.

There was an obvious powerful anger towards the men that abused their power.

We needed to make space in that Circle to let it all out. And the Weinstein scandal was only the catalyst.

My planned discussion was no longer relevant or important

It was all about letting it out, speaking our truth, and sharing it with each other.

Some encountered this kind of male behavior in their workspace. Some with colleagues and some with friends.

I listened intently to all that these women had experienced and I saw myself being so deeply thankful that I never had to work with dickheads like that.

That my friends are always supportive, helpful, and kind.

A smile came across my face and I felt so thankful with the environment surrounding me.

Being at peace with myself.

I encountered it as a very young girl in my own family.

The place which should shelter you, give you space to grow, and protect you.

The place where you should feel safe.

My stepfather sexually harassed me for several years

I was 8 years old when it started. I never asked for help, nor could I have imagined to do so.

The shame I felt was overpowering.

I did not know why he did this but I felt so terrible, I spoke about it.

To be quite honest, even thinking about what happened, I felt so disgusted at myself. As I thought I was at fault. I felt so ashamed and abnormal.

When I grew up, people didn’t speak about the abuse of children, the empowerment of girls, or the fact that you can say ‘STOP’ and for it to be heard.

I simply did not know my options.

Later, when I was about 11 or 12 years old, I said STOP. And I told him ‘that is what you should be doing with my mum” for good measure.

He stopped immediately. The fact I mentioned my Mum and that he was aware that I knew what he was doing was wrong, made him afraid.

The physical abuse stopped that day!

But after I spoke up against him, he started to make me look like I was a liar.

He would create these lies about what I have said and what I have done.

I was totally overwhelmed by this and when my Mum started to believe his shameless lies about me, I got really angry and frustrated.

It took me years to realize that he did this out of fear.

I don’t know what was worse: the sexual harassment and abuse or the abuse of power to discredit myself and who I was as a child and teenager.

This situation caused many years of pain

But it also made me strong and determined to grow out of the pain and empower myself.

I guess looking back, I gained a lot of insight into my nature and the nature of the people around me.

As a young adult, I didn’t have much tolerance toward bullies, liars, and the lot.

I made strong and powerful decisions to protect myself and my own children.

It made me pick Mr. Right without any compromise.

It made me, together with many other situations, the women I am today.

Don’t get me wrong. I don’t excuse any of this nor any of the other men who abused their power. It is disgusting and cannot be tolerated!

I just want to give hope. Even if you have been abused, there is a way out.

There are ways to get out of this feeling, empowered and strong.

And the women coming out against Harvey Weinstein are paving the way for us to speak our own truth.

It took me years to get there. Now I feel whole, happy, healthy, empowered and lucky to be who I am.

And I also feel that it is time to speak out, step up, and stand together against men (and women) who abuse their power.

It is time to no longer tolerate or ignore what is wrong in our society.

For our sisters, brothers, sons, and daughters – and most of all for ourselves! It’s time we step into our own power.

Let’s start the discussion below and let me know how you feel about it!

All my love

Carollyne