Powerful Pursuits: Meet Christina Aristidou, the new director of Global Woman Club in Cyprus

Embark on an extraordinary odyssey alongside the unstoppable force that is Christina Aristidou, a living testament to the profound impact of choice and self-determination. In the grand tapestry of her life, Christina unravels a captivating saga, triumphing over both personal and professional challenges through deliberate creation and introspection. At the core of her philosophy lies an unwavering belief: that true success is an intimately personal journey, anchored in contentment, joy, and fulfillment.

Free will and choice are the greatest superpowers of all. They shape our success, our happiness, our mindset, our relationships, everything.

That pivotal moment for me was during a personal turbulence when I realised that life is a gift, precious like no other. During that period of darkness, I chose to become the light – become the best version of myself, authentically and unapologetically, and I committed to myself to doing whatever it takes. This transition was a total breakthrough – it was a bold apology to myself for mistreating me and dishonouring my needs, my dreams, my emotions, over the years, for the sake of achieving the ‘standardised’ version of success imposed by social norms.

I realised that success is personal and means nothing unless it makes the person feel content, joyful and fulfilled within. I committed myself, done the inner work, transcended my pain into power, and chose to follow my calling.

In order to find something that we love, enjoy and then go and do it, we first need to get to know ourselves. Self-awareness is key – we need to look into our heart and see what is important to us, what our values are, what inspires us and what are the qualities we admire in ourselves and others.

Self-awareness is about accessing our inner wisdom, trusting ourselves, our journey and our intuition. It enabled me to build myself up, unleash my full potential and become bold, fearless, and resilient. Pain and challenges are stepping stones in our way towards greatness.

It’s all about mindset, because our thoughts and perceptions determine the quality of our life. Mindset shifts occur when we dare to challenge our thoughts, our beliefs, our life by asking powerful questions. Instead of asking, ‘Why is this happening to me?’ one could ask ‘What is this trying to teach me?’ It is not always about finding the why. It is more about understanding and trusting that everything happens for us, not to us.

In the Global Woman Club, our motto is ‘if you want to empower a woman give her a microphone’. As the leader of the Cyprus club, I am cultivating a dynamic and empowering haven where every woman in Cyprus can immerse herself in education, forge connections, and unveil her potential locally and globally.

Central to this journey are networking and collaboration, pillars that uphold the creation of a safe space where women can not only show up, stand up, and speak up but also feel seen, heard, understood, respected, celebrated, and appreciated.

Unless we get to know, love, value, accept, and appreciate ourselves for whatever we have been through, whatever we have achieved, as well as the daily challenges that we overcome, nothing can change. Love, happiness, and fulfilment, always start within. It’s about becoming whole and complete. Cultivating self-love, self-acceptance, and adopting a positive mindset, make us feel happier, more successful, fulfilled, and confident to pursue whatever success we want to achieve. And what is the greatest success, if not happiness?

Embrace and cherish yourself, to live life authentically, and unapologetically. It involves placing trust in the belief that whatever unfolds is ultimately in your favour. Striving to become the best version of yourself is not only a personal journey but also a source of empowerment for others. This, indeed, is the most profound legacy you can bequeath, not only to your loved ones but to the world at large.