Along the curves and bumps in my life journey, I have been fortunate to have mentors to steer me in the right direction, to get me back on track and to cheer me on at the finish line. Most of them have been women — inspirational, wise and strong women.
在我崎嶇的生命旅途中，我很幸運的擁有許多為我指引正確方向的良師益友，時不時的把我拉回正確的軌道，為我的成功而喝彩。而他們當中有很多都是女性----善於給人帶來鼓舞的、智慧的、堅強的女性。
They have appeared in my life like a blessing, just at the right time and with purpose. I have met them in college, in graduate school, at work, online, in my community and within my family. They have served as powerful role models, anchors, life coaches, motivators and firm reminders of who I am and what I can become.
她們像是上帝的賜福一樣及時的出現在我生命裡並給我支持的力量。我在大學裡、在研究生院裡、在工作中、在網上、在家庭社團裡與她們相識。她們充當著各種我想要或者我可以成為的強有力的榜樣，如壓陣者、生活教練、激勵者以及堅定的提醒者。
Mentor as Wise Advisers 睿智的顧問
Traditionally, a mentor is known as a wise and trusted adviser, teacher or friend, who is usually a more experienced person than the mentee in a particular community or role. Mentoring relationships normally exist in corporate environments and in higher education settings, where mentors help individuals advance in their careers, enhance their education, and build networks.
我們傳統的認為，良師益友就是那些在一個特定的社團或角色裡比導生擁有更有經驗閱歷的睿智的、值得信任的顧問、師長或朋友，顧問指導關係存在於社團裡和高等教育環境裡，導師則幫助提供個人的建議、提高教學品質，以及建立網路系統。
Mentors in the Business of Life 生活的良師益友
I propose we broaden the concept of mentorship to include the invaluable role that women serve to each other, as powerful sources of inspiration, guidance, support and encouragement.
我認為我們可以擴大師友關係的定義範圍，包括女性互相擔當的各種重要角色，她們是啟發、引導、支持和鼓勵的強有力的來源。
Undeniably, men can be great mentors too, but it is the commonality of womanhood that makes women true life mentors. Consider the friend(s) you called upon as a new mother full of questions and doubts. Or the women you reached out to when life was unkind. Think about your go-to person when you need inspiration to balance it all and continue to move forward. And what about the wise women you look up to because they’ve been there and done that – successfully and confidently? These women, I say, are life mentors.
不可否認男性也可以成為很好的良師益友，但女性間的情誼使得她們在成為別人真正的良師益友方面更具 有共通性。想想你那剛剛升級為媽媽而問題疑難一大籮筐的朋友，或者因生活窘迫而經常受你援助的女性，想想那些被你拿來平衡內心以獲得鼓舞並使自己繼續前進 的失敗的人。而那些你所尋找的睿智女性遇到此類情境又處理得如何呢----成功又自信的？我要說，這類女性正是我們的良師益友。
Are You a Life Mentor to Someone Else? 你是別人的良師益友嗎？
You may not be aware of it, but you also have the opportunity to be a life mentor to someone else! Consider the following common characteristics of life mentors and how they might describe you as well:
你或許還沒意識到，你也是有機會成為別人的良師益友的！細想一下以下這些良師益友的共同特徵吧，也許它們正是別人對你的描述哦：
They have experienced and conquered challenging moments in their lives, which have made them a wiser person They readily use their own personal experiences to instill hope and share life strategies They are resilient, positive and open-minded They enjoy empowering others and bringing out their best They are supportive and are able to put aside their interest, for the sake of others in need of help and guidance
她們擁有豐富的應對挑戰征服困境的經驗，從而使得她們一步步成為更加睿智的人。她們熟練運用個人經驗灌輸她們的希望以及分享她們的策略。她們適應力強、心態積極、思想開明。她們很樂於啟發別人，而且很有自己的一套。只要別人需要幫助和引導，她們便很樂於為別人提供幫助。
Why Do We Need Women as Mentors? 為何我們需要良師益友型的女性朋友？
Women today are busier than ever. As working parents, we work long hours or hold multiple jobs. As stay-at-home moms, we take care of active and busy children while managing our homes and sometimes even working from home. We are creating new possibilities, starting or running businesses and pursuing our dreams.
現代女性比以往任何時候都要忙碌。作為職業女性，即使已為人母也要起早貪黑的工作。作為全職媽媽，我們又要照看孩子又要打理家務，有時甚至還要在家裡工作。我們正在創造新的可能，開創新的事業，為我們的夢想而打拼。
Today, we need each other more than ever. Traditional support systems, such as extended family members, are less available to provide support due to their own busy schedules or distant living. So in these modern times, we need our small community of women mentors, to embrace us and empower us.
今天，我們比以往任何時候更需要彼此。傳統的支撐體系，例如家庭的後輩成員，他們或者自己的排程就已經夠滿了，或者因為住得比較遠，而很少有時間來陪伴我們。所以在現代這樣的時期裡，我們便很需要良師益友型的閨蜜彼此慰藉和鼓舞。
Where to Seek Life Mentors 良師益友何處尋
By now, you might be wondering how you can sign up for one of these! The truth is, life mentors are all around us. We may not see them in this way, as potential life mentors, but they are among our social circle. Here are a few places to begin your search:
此刻你也許很想知道如何能找到這樣一個良師益友！事實上她們就在我們周圍。她們是潛在的良師益友，或許我們平常無法看出來，但她們就存在於我們的社交圈裡。這裡有幾個地方可以開始你的搜索：
among close, supportive friends among co-worker or colleagues extended family members people in your community (women’s groups, places of worship, other parents at school) former or current teachers and professors professional life coaches and counselors mentoring network websites (Mommy Mentors, HerFuture, Mentor)
在關係較緊密的圈子裡，不僅是家人，還可以在能夠給予你支援和幫助 的社團合作者或同事中尋找（比如女子社團、做禮拜的地方、在學校遇見的其他家長），以前或現在的師長、專業生活指導教練、輔導員以及指導網站（媽咪導師, 她的未來, 良師益友）
You can also form your own group of life mentors interested in mutually mentoring each other. You can hold monthly meetings or do so completely virtually (online).
你也可以自己建立一個志同道合的群組，成員間樂於為彼此打氣鼓舞。你們還可以每月舉行一次聚會或網路聚會。
If there is someone in your life that could serve as a life mentor, try to connect to her, and don’t hesitate to ask for guidance. You will know you have connected when you find yourself feeling good about yourself and feeling deep admiration and trust for this person after a meaningful conversation.
如果你的生活中有這樣一個良師益友，嘗試著去聯繫她，不要猶豫向她討教。你將知道，在你自我感覺良好的時候去找她並通過一次有意義的談話之後，你會由衷的讚賞和信任這個人。
It might take a village to raise a child, but it certainly takes a small community of life mentors to help women transform and reach their full God-given potential in life.
培養好一個小孩或許需要勞師動眾，但説明女性改變她們的生活並發揮她們難得的潛在力只需要一個小小的團體。
Do you have women in your life who you consider mentors? Have you mentored others?
你在生活中有沒有遇到過可以成為良師益友的女性朋友？你又是否引導過其他人呢？
Written by Angelica Perez-Litwin, PhD 安吉莉卡 著 Angelica is the founder and writer of Modern Familia, a family well-being blog for parents with a focus on bicultural living, where she offers insight, ideas and resources on how to create confident and happy families. Angelica is a practicing psychologist and modern life coach. 安吉莉卡是現代家庭的創立者和作者，該社區專為父母們提供關注雙重文化教育生活的博客，她在這裡為如何營造舒適快樂的家庭提供深刻見解、點子以及資源。安 吉莉卡是職業心理醫生和時尚生活教練
請先 登入 以發表留言。