4 Lessons to Learn from Queen Esther
This week, we celebrated the Jewish holiday of Purim.
I don’t think it’s an accident that Purim most often falls during Women’s History Month. Purim is the celebration of, perhaps, the most well-known heroine story in Jewish history.
(If you’re unfamiliar, you can read the story of Esther here.)
When I was a kid, I would dress up as Queen Esther every year for Purim. My brothers might say I just loved pretending to be a queen, but I like to think there was a part of me, even at that young age, that was connected to the essence of who Queen Esther was and what she did for her (my) people.
From my own experience, and working so closely with artists and music industry professionals, I have a pretty good picture of the stresses and struggles of the industry and the things that hold people back from showing up fully. Especially women!!
The self-doubt, comparison, and limiting beliefs about what it takes and what’s important can be paralyzing.
So in honor of Purim, and after reading some interesting facts about Queen Esther (thanks Chabad.org), I wanted to share some of the lessons I think we can all learn from her - in whatever industry you’re in, and whatever gender you are!
She was a double orphan… aka, she experienced a lot of trauma.
No matter what age it happens, losing both of your parents is traumatic. We all experience trauma in our lives - some with a big T, some with a little t - and we also carry trauma in our bodies from previous generations. This can affect how we show up on a daily basis.
Many in the music industry (again, especially women) have experienced some kind of trauma in the industry itself - so, of course, it’s going to play a role in how they think and approach different projects. The key is how much we let our trauma be in the driver’s seat. Esther didn’t allow the trauma she experienced to keep her from doing the scary thing she knew she needed to do.
And the impact of that? The Jewish people continue to exist and thrive, and contribute to the betterment of the world.She was over 40 when she married the king and saved the Jewish people!
This was one I didn’t know before and it made me do a little dance!
While we often think of Esther as a young 20-something, tradition actually teaches that she was between the ages of 40 and 80(!) at the time of the Purim story! Not only that, but she was considered to be among the most beautiful women in the world. Beauty is not dependent on age, and neither is what you’re capable of accomplishing.
Society gives us message after message that we lose our appeal as we age. But what if your beauty, wisdom, courage and the impact you can have only grow? I hear from so many artists (yep… especially women- but men too) that they’re too old to “make it” or that their best days are behind them. But age does not have to stop you. Your biggest, most impactful chapter could still be ahead of you.. no matter how old you are.
YOU ARE NOT TOO OLD AND IT IS NOT TOO LATE!!Her name means “hidden”
Her Hebrew name was actually Hadassah but she was given the Persian name of Esther (morning star) because she was considered as beautiful as the stars in the sky. But the Hebrew root of Esther actually means “hidden.”
We are taught that Purim is a tale of many hidden miracles and that G-d’s name is not mentioned in the Megillah because His intervention was hidden (this is also why we dress up in costumes!). When we learn about the story and the many commentaries along with it, we can peel back the layers to see the Divine intervention and how Esther was an instrument for the Divine all along.
It’s so easy to get caught up in the daily grind and see hardships and struggles just on the surface. But if we really look for it- we will see miracles all around us. We will see how we are each Divine tools here for a purpose, to make an impact on the world with our unique talents. It’s not meant to be obvious and in your face… looking for the miracles is part of the work that makes us stronger and more powerful.She saved an entire people from annihilation
Queen Esther didn’t set out to be a savior or heroine, or even a queen! “Save the Jewish people from annihilation” probably wasn’t on the top of her life goals list. But when the time came, she stepped up. She faced her fears. She did the scary thing she didn’t think she could do and went to the king, risking her own life, to beg and plead for her people. She also gave up the life and future she dreamed for herself (married and having a family with Mordechai) to stay beholden to the king- but she understood that she had a higher purpose.
We don’t all have to sacrifice our future or risk our lives - but we all have the ability to make that choice if called upon to do so. And every day, we have the ability to look what scares us in the face, and do the thing we think we can’t in order to make a positive impact in the world. We all have a Queen Esther inside of us.
P.S. if you could use some personalized to support to help you call upon your inner Queen Esther (we all have one!) to do the thing that needs to be done so that you can have the impact you’re meant for…. let’s chat!
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