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Stop Apologizing for Your Achievements
As I lounged with a cup of coffee catching up with an old friend, she asked about my recent career shift. After years of putting in hard work to establish myself in a new field, I was finally starting to see some success. My friend was thrilled to hear about my promotion, wrapping me in a warm hug. Yet, instead of celebrating, I found myself downplaying my accomplishments. I muttered something like, “Oh, it’s really not that important,” before we quickly moved on to other subjects.
Reflecting on that moment, I’ve been puzzled by my inability to fully embrace my success. Why couldn’t I simply revel in the joy of my hard-earned achievements? Why couldn’t I say, “Heck yeah! Let’s celebrate! I did a fantastic job, and I’m genuinely proud of myself!” I’ve poured countless hours into this new career, often sacrificing my household responsibilities and parenting duties. I’ve fought tooth and nail to be recognized in a competitive environment, and I know I’m damn good at what I do. So why do I struggle to accept the compliments that come my way?
I realize I’m not alone in this. I see women all around me deflecting praise, often conditioned to be self-deprecating. Whether it’s a mother brushing off compliments after organizing a school event or a writer downplaying her best-selling book, we tend to minimize our own accomplishments.
Come on, ladies! We are fierce warriors conquering challenges daily. Whether it’s dealing with demanding toddlers or pushing through workplace obstacles, we rise to the occasion time and again. When will we acknowledge just how remarkable we truly are? When will we allow ourselves a moment to celebrate the fact that we’ve nurtured lives and built careers through sheer grit and determination?
The time for that is now! We need to stop apologizing for our achievements. It’s time to reject the notion that our hard work is insignificant. If you see a woman downplaying her success, encourage her to embrace her power. Help her recognize that she’s earned the right to feel proud. When we vocalize our successes, we start to believe in our worth.
Being a mom isn’t just important; it’s monumental. We strive to raise kind, considerate children while managing our own lives. And being successful in our careers means battling against systemic inequalities every single day. We do this while juggling a million responsibilities, and we do it remarkably well.
So, the next time someone praises you for your hard work, own it. Say “thank you,” and let yourself feel that pride. Share the journey it took to reach your heights and celebrate every single victory. In fact, take a moment right now and say “I am badass”—because you absolutely are, and badasses don’t apologize for their greatness.
And if you’re interested in learning more about how to enhance your fertility journey, check out this post that explores various aspects of home insemination. Additionally, Make a Mom provides great resources for fertility boosters for men, and Cleveland Clinic’s OB-GYN podcast has excellent information on IVF and fertility preservation.
Summary:
It’s time for women to stop downplaying their successes and to embrace their achievements with pride. Society often conditions us to minimize our accomplishments, but we must recognize our hard work and celebrate it. By accepting compliments and vocalizing our successes, we empower ourselves and others. Let’s champion each other in recognizing our achievements, whether in motherhood or our careers.