There’s a version of me who believed strength meant never stopping, that hustle was a measure of love and worth, and that every goal had to be met without rest. For years, I wore this as armor, pouring myself into every late night and difficult decision, convinced that sheer determination would be the key to building a lasting business. I measured progress in small wins and sleepless weeks, pushing aside my doubts in favor of productivity. There were moments when the weight of responsibility felt like a constant companion when hiring, letting people go, or launching something new came with more fear than I’d let myself admit. Perfectionism became both my shield and my taskmaster, urging me to go further, work harder, and ignore any sign of softness, believing that to ease up even for a moment might unravel everything I’d worked for.
But armor can only protect so much before it weighs you down. I carried regret over past decisions, the ache of trying to be everything for everyone, and the exhaustion that creeps in when you believe rest is something to earn rather than something you deserve.
Burnout didn’t arrive all at once. It settled slowly, dulling my passion and leaving me alone with the realization that the person I needed to forgive most was myself. Leadership had taught me to be resilient, but true growth began when I let myself be human when I let go of perfection and started to offer myself the same grace I gave others.
Self-forgiveness isn’t a single moment. It’s a practice choosing, day after day, to trust my own intuition, to honor my need for rest, and to remind myself that my worth isn’t tethered to relentless striving. My business doesn’t thrive in spite of my humanity, but because of it.
For anyone building something meaningful, especially women who carry so many expectations, I offer this reminder: gentleness with yourself is not a detour from ambition, but the foundation it stands on. The strength we seek isn’t found in unyielding effort, but in the quiet courage to rebuild trust with ourselves, flaws and all.
