What is Strong Woman Syndrome?

Most women I work with believe that they’re not allowed to ask for help (or that it's wrong to ask for help). 

It’s based on the belief that you should be capable of doing all the things, all on your own. 

I call it Strong Woman Syndrome and it’s an epidemic. 

Can you relate? 

The good news is that it’s NOT your fault. 

We are swimming in a culture that condones the beliefs that women don’t matter, don’t deserve time for yourself, and perfectionism is vital to your survival (thanks patriarchy, white supremacy, and hustle culture). 

<big sigh>

You might not be aware that you have Strong Woman Syndrome, it’s a side effect of taking the blue pill (that’s also not your fault). 

You’re taking the blue pill if: 

1. Your inner thoughts convince you that it’s selfish to do anything just for you and that everyone else in your life’s needs come first. 

2. You’re so stoked to buy two new fuzzy blankets for $40 but over analyze whether you can buy a $40 meditation course.

3. When your partner asks you “what do you want for dinner?” your first response is “I don’t know” because you don’t want to tell him that you want spaghetti when you know he hates spaghetti. 

4. You tell yourself that there isn’t enough money for you to buy new pants for you and you easily drop $400 on an art camp for your kid. 

5. You wear your exhaustion as a badge of honor, it proves that you can do all the things.

I call bullsh*t on all of that. 

You deserve to:

1. Do things just for you, like journaling, reading, working out, or just binging on the couch (without the guilt).

2. Spend your hard earned money on things that make you happy.

3. Ask for what you want, like spaghetti for dinner when you know it’s your partner’s least favorite thing. 

4. Have new things, like clothes, shoes, and that mediation course you’ve been eyeing. 

5. Feel energized by the things that light you up and delighted to be in your own skin.

What if you could take another pill, the RED PILL and believe:

1. It’s NOT selfish to do things just for you. 

2. You have a clear and guilt-free answer when someone asks you “what do you want?” 

3. You deserve to spend time and money on yourself. 

4. It’s easy to ask for the things you want. 

5. You deserve rest so you can be the best version of you. 

Would you do what it takes to your hands on that RED PILL? 

You’ve been conditioned to give your energy to everyone else. 

That makes it sooooo much harder to know what you want because there’s a part of you that believes wanting anything for yourself is wrong (and selfish!). 

That’s bullsh*t conditioning gifted to you by the patriarchy, white supremacy, and hustle culture. 

Let’s think outside the box and see your life from a new perspective. 

So tell me, which pill are you taking? The blue pill of complacency or the red pill of truth and change? Comment and let me know. 

*from Wikipedia, “The red pill and blue pill represent a choice between the willingness to learn a potentially unsettling or life-changing truth by taking the red pill or remaining in the contented experience of ordinary reality with the blue pill. The terms originate from the 1999 film, The Matrix.”

P.S. Want to take the red pill, but don’t know where to start? I created a program just for you! It’s called Boundaries & Balance: Setting Non-Negotiables, check it out before doors close on November 17th.

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