Have you ever noticed how often we expect ourselves to be superhuman? We try to fit into a box of what society defines as perfect, and it’s exhausting trying to keep up. It’s no wonder we are all so stressed out.
But here’s the good news: you don’t have to be a superwoman and do it all! In fact, there is power in being yourself rather than conforming to various standards. Being you requires understanding and embracing who you are and giving yourself permission to live an authentic life.
Often it can be hard to break out of old patterns and habits and difficult to have self-compassion, but it can be done—with time, effort and the right strategies. In this article, we’ll explore why being yourself is far more valuable than trying to meet societal expectations.
Why Striving for “Superwoman” Status Is Unproductive
We live in a culture that places the bar for success at superhuman levels. We revel in stories of those who achieved extraordinary feats, like the one-woman start-up who built a multi-million dollar company from scratch, or the CEO who successfully balanced her business and family life.
But striving for “superwoman” status can be unproductive and damaging to our emotional wellbeing. Trying to be superwomen is exhausting. You don’t have to strive for superhuman perfection—you just have to be you.
When you embrace your strengths and weaknesses, you free yourself from trying to live up to an idealized version of success that doesn’t even exist. Being yourself doesn’t mean compromising your ambitions; what it means is having the courage to be honest about where you are right now, to accept yourself and see your true potential.
Harnessing the Power of Self-Acceptance
In our world, it’s incredibly easy to become overwhelmed with the constant pressure to keep up with all the demands of everyday life. We’re conditioned to strive for perfection, whether it’s through trying to perform better at work or becoming a better friend, family member, and partner. It can all feel like a lot–and that’s when the pressure to be a superwoman sets in.
But here’s the thing: you don’t have to be superhuman in order to succeed and thrive. All you have to do is embrace who you are and accept your unique strengths and weaknesses. By identifying and embracing your humanness, you can use self-acceptance as an empowering tool instead of one that holds you back from reaching your potential. When you’re aware of what makes you unique–and accept it wholeheartedly–you unlock a powerful energy that allows you to pursue any goals without feeling overwhelmed or exhausted by them.
Most importantly, embracing who you are means having more patience, compassion and understanding for both yourself and others; it opens up space for recognizing our shared humanity instead of feeling discouraged about our individual flaws. When we support each other on this journey, we can make a real difference in each other’s lives.
The Benefits of Not Trying to Do It All
Sometimes, being a superwoman is just too much. Trying to do it all comes at a cost—it can leave you overworked, stressed, and burned out. But if you choose to embrace who you are—not the person you think you should be—you’ll find freedom and energy that can help you get the most out of life.
What are some of the benefits of not trying to do it all?
More Time To Breathe
When you stop trying to do it all and be everything for everyone, suddenly there’s space in your schedule for more mindful moments when you can take time for self-care. Whether that’s taking a yoga class or reading a book, making time for yourself is essential for self-renewal so that your practical and creative sides have enough energy to tackle everyday tasks.
A Happier Outlook On Life
When we don’t expect too much from ourselves and accept our limits, we free up a lot of headspace for more uplifting thoughts—like gratitude for what we have and excitement about the flurry of possibilities laid out before us. And that helps us to take healthy risks, interact with people in meaningful ways, and live an authentic life full of joy and opportunity.
In summary, when you focus on embracing who you are instead of pretending to be Superwoman, it allows more time to breathe, as well as a happier outlook on life. This enables us to open up opportunities that can help foster meaningful relationships and lead an authentic life full of joy.
Making Time for Yourself and Saying No More Often
When you think about how to move away from the “Superwoman” mentality, it can be incredibly helpful to make more time for yourself—and better yet, learn to say “No” more often.
Constantly being on the go and overcommitting can be detrimental to your emotional and physical well-being. Here are a few tips that might help you practice self-care:
- Evaluate your commitments. Take a look at all of your commitments — both obligatory and discretionary — and take an honest inventory of what you need and want at this point in your life.
- Prioritize yourself. Make sure that things that are important to you are made a priority, even if it means saying no to other commitments.
- Take time for yourself daily. Make sure to prioritize leisure, fun, or anything else that brings you joy each day as you work towards embracing who you are over who society expects you to be!
The Importance of Letting Go of Perfectionism
You don’t have to be a superwoman to be successful. The key is in embracing who you are and using your unique skills and experiences to empower the work that you do.
Perfectionism Can Be Detrimental
It’s hard to look inward and find imperfections that need to be worked on, but perfectionism can actually be detrimental in many areas of your life. Trying too hard for perfection can cause feelings of stress and anxiety, and ultimately lead to feelings of sadness or depression. In the long run, this can lead to a decline in your overall well-being and success.
You Have Unique Strengths & Skillsets
When you focus on defining yourself within your own terms—rather than striving for an unattainable standard of perfection—you will be able to appreciate yourself for the unique strengths, skillsets, and qualities that make up who you are. Once you recognize these skills in yourself, you can begin utilizing them more fully in order to achieve success in whatever endeavor you are pursuing.
Embrace who you are by:
- Setting realistic goals and expectations that reflect who you are as a person, not someone else’s ideal
- Understanding that mistakes will happen, but they don’t define who we are — they only provide us with learning opportunities
- Reminding yourself of how far you have come since starting down this path
- Celebrating your accomplishments with every small step forward
Finding Balance in Your Work and Home Life
No woman has to be a “super woman” trying to juggle everything and do it all. You don’t have to feel guilty for taking time for yourself. We all need more balance in our lives, and to feel capable of managing the daily situation that comes our way.
Set Boundaries
Setting healthy boundaries at work and home can empower you to better handle situations that come up and will help eliminate the stress of over committing. It allows you to acknowledge your own needs and feel secure in saying “no” or shifting your focus.
Honor Your Time
Time is a precious resource, so make sure you honor yours by watching how you are spending it. It’s ok to take a break from the hustle of life and focus on yourself for a bit with something as simple as reading a book, going for walk or spending time with family/friends.
Focus on yourself and make sure you:
- Take mental health breaks throughout the day
- Prioritize rest, healthy nutrition, exercise, sleep, mindfulness and productive activities over productivity
- Reject perfectionism—you don’t need flawless results all the time
- Make room for learning, growth and development
At the end of the day, you don’t have to be a “Superwoman” to be successful, you just have to be you. Allow yourself to embrace who you are and the wonderful gifts you can offer the world. Give yourself permission to be kind to yourself and focus on the positive, while learning to accept the areas where growth is necessary. Learn to forgive yourself and practice self-care, as it is key to a fulfilling life. By remembering that you are enough just as you are, you can become the best version of yourself and live a life filled with joy and contentment.
