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Even Strong Women Need Support

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Perfecting Strength: The Vital Need for Support

Resilience is generally regarded as the psychological strength to cope with stress and hardship. It is the capacity to recover from difficult life events and to perform, remain well and grow through change, challenge and uncertainty. The concept of resilience has become synonymous with strength and endurance. Women, especially, are often expected to embody resilience in multifaceted roles—as professionals, wives, mothers, daughters, and community leaders. While this resilience is often admired, it often comes with a hidden cost: resilience fatigue.

Resilience fatigue, better known as burnout, isn’t exclusive to gender, yet its impact on strong women is profound. Strong women are typically identified as those who may be juggling spiritual callings and/or career ambitions while also navigating societal expectations, familial responsibilities, personal aspirations, and self-care needs. The internal and external pressure to excel in every sphere can lead to emotional exhaustion, loss of motivation, and a sense of overwhelming fatigue.

The Burden of Resilience

Strong women are frequently praised for their ability to persevere through challenges – an aging parent needing care, a tumultuous marriage, lone parenting, financial strain, housing insecurity, or sexual assault to name a few. Unfortunately, this admiration frequently ignores the toll that the expectation of a quick and easy recovery can take on their mental, spiritual and physical well-being. The expectation to remain composed, capable, and compassionate during challenging experiences too often creates a barrier to seeking help or acknowledging vulnerability. 

Women facing resilience fatigue may experience:

  1. Emotional Exhaustion: Constantly managing stressors without adequate rest can deplete emotional reserves, leading to feelings of emptiness or detachment.
  2. Loss of Motivation: The drive that propels strong women forward in their pursuits can diminish when faced with chronic stress and pressure.
  3. Physical Symptoms: Insomnia, headaches, and other stress-related ailments can manifest, further compounding the other challenges they face.
  4. Spiritual Stifling: Difficulties with prayer and the inability to hear from God clearly are often experienced due to the clamor of constant thinking, anxiety, and negative self-talk.

The Importance of Support

Support networks are crucial for women dealing with resilience fatigue. Support networks include circles of friends, professional associations, group coaching groups, and church affiliated women’s groups. Such networks provide:

  • Validation and Empathy: Being understood and acknowledged in their struggles can alleviate the sense of isolation that often accompanies burnout.
  • Practical Assistance: Whether through sharing responsibilities or offering resources, support networks can lighten the load and provide much-needed relief.
  • Permission to Prioritize Self-Care: Encouragement to prioritize their own well-being without guilt is essential for women accustomed to putting others’ needs first.

Creating a Supportive Environment

Building a supportive environment involves intention and commitment:

  • Cultural Shift: Challenging accepted stereotypes that equate strength with unwavering resilience is vital. Acknowledging vulnerability as a human experience rather than a weakness is a step towards destigmatization.
  • Personal Empowerment: As women, we can cultivate resilience by setting boundaries, practicing self-compassion, and seeking professional help when needed.
  • Organizational Policies: For business owners, your company can implement flexible work arrangements, mental health resources, and leadership programs that recognize and support the unique challenges faced by women.

Conclusion

Resilience is not infinite, especially when the expectations placed on strong women are ceaseless. And recognizing and addressing resilience fatigue is not a sign of weakness but a testament to the endurance already demonstrated. By fostering a culture of support and understanding, we empower each other to thrive authentically, ensuring that our resilience is sustained and our contributions continuous. The journey towards true strength includes acknowledging and addressing the challenges faced uniquely by strong women, promoting their well-being as an essential component of a healthy society.

Even strong women need support. If this is your season to identify your much needed support network, I would love to assist. Please reach out for a FREE consultation to discover if individual or group coaching is the best fit for you. 

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