Lessons to Learn From the Fall of Three Powerful Men

Too many women are wooed by money, fame and power. Add a man to any of these and they serve as an almost irresistable aphrodisiac to countless women. What is going on with so many women when it comes to men? It seems that men, money, fame and power leave far too many women blinded. In some cases, women are blinded by men period. What is up?

There are several lessons to learn from the recent falls of these powerful men and I pray that women reading this truly take these lessons to heart.
1.    Respect yourself. If you don’t have enough self-respect to see yourself as an equal to any man—and yes these men as well—then no man will treat you as an equal. Don’t try to dress provocatively to get a man’s attention—it cheapens you. Don’t tell him what you think he wants to hear—you will lose yourself. And, don’t sleep with him in order to keep him—he’s a louse if he would leave because you wouldn’t sleep with him. If having a man in your life is your goal, trust me you are aiming far too low.
2.    If it looks like a duck, acts like a duck and walks like a duck…it’s a duck. These men and many more like them, had glaring red flags regarding their treatment of women. Several women came forward over the years stating that Arnold sexually assaulted, groped or sexually harassed them. Dominic Strauss-Kahn was known for his “womanizing” which is the least of his offenses. Weiner reports, "My wife has known about some of these online relationships since before we were married". Dare to see what’s right in front of you and don’t try to dress it up to be something different—it’s not.
3.    You will not change him. Women start relationships with men who are known “players”, flirts, partiers etc., thinking they will be the one to change him. This is crazy thinking. For one thing why in the world would you want to be with a guy who has a history of playing women, getting drunk all the time or flirting with your friends? Women—listen up: The men are showing and telling you who they are as men from the moment you first meet them. Often they do this with a figurative gigantic neon sign—open your eyes and read it, don’t try to find the white out and change it.
4.    Respect other women. Don’t be so desperate for the attention of men that you go after another woman’s partner. Please, if he’s willing to cheat on his girlfriend or wife you better know that he’d be willing to cheat on you as well. If he likes you that much then he wouldn’t be sneaking around with you…even if you were his housekeeper. Never allow yourself to be with another woman’s husband/paramour—you deserve better than that and so does she.

Women are pivotal to the process of change in our world. One vital change we need is for the treatment of women to be more respectful, less sexualized and less violent. This shift can only happen when we, as women first and foremost respect ourselves.

Challenge: Have the courage to learn from the fall of these three men: respect yourself, don’t wear blinders, respect other women and don’t think you can change a man.