At the Omega Women's Leadership Center 2013Women & Power Retreat, Carla Goldsteinsolicited presenters' advice onhow emerging women leaders can find their own strength. Here areher six big takeaways.

1. Anchor
When we are riding the waves of life and feel especially tossed andturned by its storms,Elizabeth Lesser beckons us to dropanchor and root firmly in our emotional center of kindness,compassion and interconnectedness, no matter the circumstances inwhich we find ourselves. Elizabeth spoke of the daily acts ofcourage, backbone and strength of caretakers such as teachers,nurses, nannies, parents, farmers, healers and social workers andtold the story of Antionette Tuff, the bookkeeper at an Atlantaelementary school who prevented another massive school shootingfrom happening. Antointette, who calmly and lovingly spoke to thegunman, says that she practices what her pastor called anchoring,first anchoring in one's inner strength, and then letting empathyand compassion lead the way. Anchored strength in service ofcompassion averted a national tragedy. To anchor is to remember whowe are, what we are doing, how we are living, and what values weare serving and why.

2. Soft Front, Strong Back
To travel through life equally receptive and assertive; to knowwhen compassion calls us to be yielding and when it calls us to befirm. Joan Halifax Roshi guided us to walk tallwith soft bellies and strong, upright spines rather than harden ourhearts, and to cultivate balance and wisdom with love andconfidence.