Superwoman or just Surviving?

What happens when the woman who has it all feels utterly empty inside??

Let me tell you about Claire. You might just see a bit of yourself in her story.

Claire was the kind of woman everyone admired—smart, driven, a natural leader. From the time she was a little girl, she learned that being the best wasn’t just encouraged—it was expected. She still remembers the way her parents beamed with pride when she aced her exams or won a race. But she also remembers something else—the quiet disappointment when she didn’t quite make the mark.

One phrase stuck with her, though it was always said with love: "Don’t worry, next time you’ll work harder and do even better."

Claire didn’t hear reassurance. What she heard was: "To be loved, to be worthy, I have to be the best."

And so, she carried that belief into adulthood, wearing it like invisible armor.

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Fast forward to today, and Claire is a powerhouse. A respected leader at work, a devoted mother, a reliable friend, a volunteer in her community.

From the outside, she looks like she’s got it all together. But on the inside?

She’s tired. Not just the kind of tired that a weekend off can fix—the bone-deep exhaustion of someone who’s been running on empty for too long. The kind of exhaustion that whispers, "If you slow down, you’ll fall behind."

Her inner critic—let’s call it The Judge—never rests:

?? “You should be doing more.”

?? “You’re falling behind—look at what everyone else is achieving.”

?? “You did okay, but you could have done better.”

Claire has spent years chasing an impossible standard, believing that if she just worked harder, she’d finally feel… what? Enough? Secure? At peace?

But that moment never comes. Because when you measure your worth by your achievements, “enough” is a moving target.

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The cost was steep:

?? Exhaustion – She was running on fumes, sacrificing her own well-being in the relentless pursuit of proving herself.

?? Disconnection – She was so busy being everything to everyone that she lost touch with what truly made her happy.

?? Isolation – On the outside, she looked confident, but inside, she felt like an impostor—always comparing, always feeling like she wasn’t quite measuring up.

She thought she was chasing excellence. But what she was really chasing? Approval.

And the hardest truth of all? It was never going to be enough.

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In our work together, it took some time to untie the knot, for Claire to arrive at the knowing that her self-worth is about who she is and not about how much she achieved.

For the first time, she began to question the voice of The Judge.

She started to see Superwoman for what she was—not a badge of honour, but a mask. A role she had taken on, believing it was the only way to be valued. And once she saw it, she couldn’t unsee it.

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So, what did it enable us to work on?

?? healthy setting boundaries—saying “no” to what drained her and “yes” to what mattered.

?? stopping measuring own value by productivity and aligning her work and life with her values.

?? recognizing The Judge’s voice in its various disguises—and choosing when not to listen.

?? letting go of the fear that if she wasn’t “perfect,” she wasn’t worthy.

?? And the most surprising part? She became a better leader, a more present mother, and a happier version of herself.

Claire didn’t lose her ambition—she redefined it. She didn’t stop leading—she led differently, from a place of strength, not exhaustion.

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If Claire’s story feels familiar, you’re not alone.

So many brilliant, capable women are stuck in the Superwoman trap. But You don’t have to stay there.

?? Join me for my FREE masterclass, “Superwoman and Her Shadow,” where we’ll uncover:

? The origins of the Superwoman archetype and how it shapes your life

? The hidden costs of living in “never enough” mode

? Practical steps to break free and step into empowered leadership—without burning out

This isn’t about giving up your ambition. It’s about leading in a way that is sustainable, fulfilling, and authentic to YOU.

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? Share this with a friend who needs to hear it.

Step out of the shadow of Superwoman and into a new, more fulfilling way of leading and living.??