The Cost of Being ‘A Strong Woman’—And Why We’re Done Paying It
The Exhaustion of Always Proving Ourselves
Women’s History Month has always been about honoring the past. But Women’s HERstory Month? That’s about telling the truth—the full, unfiltered stories of who we are, what we’ve built, and the power we’ve always had.
For too long, the stories told about us have been edited, sanitized, or left out altogether. The version of history that gets remembered often leaves out the overwork, the overlooked labor, the constant proving. It skips over the exhaustion of being expected to hold everything together, without ever being fully valued.
And the truth is, this isn’t just happening in our careers—it’s happening in our homes, our relationships, and our communities.
We are exhausted from proving ourselves in spaces that still don’t fully see or value us.
We are overworked but rarely the ones getting promoted, recognized, or paid what we’re worth.
We are carrying institutions, teams, movements—and entire families—while still being told to “be patient” or “wait our turn.”
HERstory isn’t just about remembering women’s contributions—it’s about finally telling the truth about what it takes. And if we’re going to keep showing up, it cannot be at the cost of ourselves.
HERstory = Our Truth. No More Rewriting It to Make Others Comfortable.
As a scholar-educator, certified professional coach, leadership development facilitator, and consultant, I work with women who have spent their entire careers navigating systems that were never built for them.
But this isn’t just about work.
Women carry the weight of their families, communities, and relationships just as much as they carry their careers.
We are the ones managing households, children, and caretaking responsibilities—while still showing up for work every day.
We are the ones ensuring our partners, parents, and loved ones are supported—while often putting our own needs last.
We are the ones leading and sustaining communities, schools, and organizations—often as unpaid or unrecognized leaders.
And here’s the truth that rarely gets named:
The system benefits from keeping us in a constant state of proving ourselves.
Let me ask you this:
What if the issue isn’t that we need to “lean in” more, but that institutions—and even our personal relationships—need to be held accountable for equitable recognition, support, and shared responsibility?
What if we stopped asking how much more we can handle—and started asking why we’re expected to handle it all in the first place?
What if we let go of the pressure to be everything for everyone—and finally prioritized ourselves?
This isn’t about individual resilience—it’s about reimagining leadership and womanhood in ways that don’t require exhaustion as proof of commitment.
And once you see that, everything changes.
Reclaiming HERstory: From Being Written About to Writing Our Own Future
That’s why I launched Real & Worthy, LLC in 2023.
I created this company not just as a business, but as a movement—a space where women can unlearn the lie that they need to prove themselves, and reclaim the truth.
We are already worthy. We are not impostors.
History tells us so:
Sojourner Truth stood in rooms that weren’t meant for her and demanded to be heard.
Dolores Huerta fought for labor rights despite being told she was "too radical."
Toni Morrison refused to let the publishing world define whose stories mattered.
These women weren’t just hardworking. They were visionary. They were powerful.
And they didn’t wait for permission to be valued.
Neither should we.
Now, It’s Our Turn to Tell the Truth About Our Worth.
For far too long, we have waited—for validation, for permission, for a seat at the table. But what if, instead of waiting, we built our own table?
Instead of seeking recognition, we owned our brilliance.
Instead of asking to be included, we took up space unapologetically.
Instead of overworking to prove our worth, we moved like we already belong—because we do.
And what if we applied this not just in our careers—but in our personal lives, too?
What if we expected true partnership in our relationships—not just support but shared labor?
What if we stopped saying yes to every family and community obligation that drained us, just because we were expected to?
What if we redefined what it means to be a "strong woman"—not as someone who does it all, but as someone who chooses herself?
Your Power Move Starts Now.
So this Women’s HERstory Month, I want to challenge you:
Where have you been waiting to be seen? And how will you start seeing yourself first?
Where have you been seeking validation? And how will you start validating yourself instead?
Where have you been overworking, overproving, and overextending? And how will you reclaim your time, your energy, and your worth?
A Call to Action: This Is a Collective Movement.
Healing happens in community. Burnout thrives in isolation.
I created Real & Worthy, LLC because I know we are stronger when we support each other—when we see each other, lift each other up, and refuse to let exhaustion be the price of our success.
This conversation doesn’t end here. I’ll be sharing more each month—challenging the narratives that hold us back and reclaiming the truths that set us free.
If this resonated with you, let’s keep the conversation going.
✅ Share this with another woman who needs this reminder today.
✅ Let’s make this movement bigger—because when we lift each other up, we all rise.
