Duchess Meghan has made another exciting virtual appearance from her new home in Santa Barbara! As Hello! shares, Meghan participated in the Fortune Most Powerful Women Next Gen Summit recently, where she talked to Fortune's Emma Hinchliffe about being brave and taking action.
Meghan talks about the importance of living an authentic life
Duchess Meghan acknowledged that while "sometimes making the best decision for yourself and your family might not be the most popular one," she's learned to "chase her convictions with actions" in order to live her most authentic life. "But when you really know who you are and you know what your belief system is and you live by truth," Meghan shared, "then I think that can start to peel away the layers of where the fear comes in."
She also revealed that when it comes to making difficult decisions, there's a key phrase she keeps in mind— "my faith is greater than my fear"— and stressed the importance of living honestly. "If you live knowing the truth, regardless of what anyone says, you'll be able to go to sleep with a clear conscience," she shared. "Most people are afraid of the unknown, but sometimes you need to take that leap."
Meghan opens up about staying off social media herself
Duchess Meghan spoke candidly during the summit, even answering a question about having limitations when it comes to what she's able to talk about. As Hello! shares, it seems as though that particular query was related to Meghan's former life as a full-time member of the royal family, where she wasn't able to speak as freely— and she had a powerful answer in response!
"I think there's an incredible opportunity for everyone to recognise that your voice matters and I think you realise it more when you are not able to exercise it," she said, "so regardless of my experience over the last few years compared to anyone's experience, you can't take for granted the ability you have as a woman to be able to be heard and now with the platform that people have on social media, to actually have that voice heard for a larger audience is a huge responsibility."
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Meghan also addressed her own relationship with social media. The Duchess of Sussex mentioned that she's opted not to have any social media accounts of her own for some time, and talked about how she views online platforms. "It's a privilege but it’s also a responsibility," she said. "If you don't agree with [something], don't be part of the problem, be part of the solution. Don't hate share; share something from the right side of the issue so that that's what goes viral."
Duchess Meghan discusses "fundamental human rights"
Meghan also opened up about how her and Prince Harry's 1-year-old son— Archie Mountbatten-Windsor— has changed her outlook on the world. "It makes you more courageous, it makes you so concerned for the world they're going to inherit," she shared of becoming a mother. Then, Meghan went on to talk about her own personal interest in equality and justice, including why she feels everyone should care about these issues as well.
"I think so much of the focus that I have had since I was very young from the age of 11 I was interested in gender equity and in women having a seat at the table and having their voices heard, I think that is of fundamental importance certainly now more than ever," she said. "Racial justice resonates for me on a personal level being a woman of colour, but outside of that I think it just goes back to fundamental human rights which should be important to all of us."
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"So when we look at it through that lens, every day if you do one small thing to help someone else," Meghan continued, "you do one small thing that's going to move the needle in the direction of good, then you can go to sleep well knowing that you’ve accomplished something not for yourself, but for others".
Meghan has also become more politically involved and outspoken since returning to the United States, appearing at a virtual celebration of the 19th Amendment. And on Sunday, Meghan and Harry both took part in a special virtual conversation with young activist Malala Yousafzai in honour of this year's Day of the Girl!
Watch Duchess Meghan speak out at the Fortune Most Powerful Women Next Gen Summit here!
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