Have you ever felt like you are not good enough? That no matter how hard you tried to silence your inner critic, your negative self-talk still got the best of you. Of course, I refer to that nagging voice in your head that says, “You could have done better, you should have done better”…” Does this sound familiar?
I found that these unhelpful feelings stand in the way of our presence at the moment. They act as a dark screen that obscures clarity and blocks us from seeing our true self-worth. They prevent us from valuing the true essence of our being.
I want to tell you a story. When I was twenty, I experienced a devastating encounter with the ‘glass ceiling.’ It was gut-wrenching. I was shocked and confused. Because I did not know that such a thing existed, I crashed into it repeatedly. The term ‘glass ceiling’ is used in leadership literature to describe the intangible barrier to professional advancement that prevents women and minorities from obtaining upper-level positions.[12] You see, the ‘glass ceiling’ for me was double-glazed. People labeled me as female and an ethnic minority. The theory of intersectionality posits that gender intersecting with ethnicity will increase the density of the barrier.
There are only two possible outcomes for the ‘glass ceiling’: either you break it, or it breaks you.
Once I graduated from dental school, I thought I could slow down and enjoy my success. Instead, I found myself struggling physically and emotionally. Pursuing five years of dental school felt like a harrowing journey. I had little sleep and had to do my assignments after a full day in clinics. My life consisted only of dental school and hospital. It was like running on a treadmill. There was never enough time and as a result, I had to sacrifice my self-care. I participated in local and international research competitions and won numerous awards. This is where I had some of my explicit encounters with the ‘glass ceiling.’ Repeatedly, I put my career first and my health second. I was malnourished, overwhelmed, and not the woman I wanted to be.
My working life came with its own challenges. On the outside, it seemed like I lived a dream life. I had a beautiful home and an affluent bank account; I traveled a lot and had a wonderful family that loved me. Yet on the inside, I struggled to the point where I could not enjoy what I had. My physical health was deteriorating. I felt exhausted, physically run down, and experienced pain daily. I was often irritable, which affected the quality of my relationships. I was disconnected from myself and was emotionally unavailable to my family. A couple of years later, I was diagnosed with a medical condition partly due to being in a state of constant stress. Quite simply, I had burned out.
While seeking a more holistic approach to health, I tried changing jobs, and countries and moving to an organization with a better work culture. Eventually, I realized the only thing I still had to change was me! I needed a new outlook on life. I had spent most of my life trying to get approval from those around me because I was deeply suffering inside from the “I am not good enough” syndrome. To overcome this, I had to search for answers. It was not easy, but I decided to return to school and specialize in organizational leadership. To be successful, I needed to learn how to become resilient. As part of my dissertation, I researched the implications of the ‘glass ceiling’ as I examined the opportunities and challenges facing minority female leaders. I also completed an emotional resilience training program to become a certified emotional resilience coach and mentor.
From this, I learned that my circumstances were not the problem. Nothing outside of me controls how I feel. I am grateful to now be connected with my innate well-being, inner peace, and confidence. I operate primarily from a place of understanding, compassion, and wisdom.
My life has flourished personally and professionally, and I enjoy healthier relationships. I am being true to my vision as I create my legacy one day at a time. Today, I can have life’s challenges without the challenges having me.
If you want to find your voice, shatter the ‘glass ceiling’, become the leader you aspire to be, and create influence and impact Then then, you must learn to let go of the limitations and labels you have put on yourself, as well as those that others have put on you because this is how you will go from existing to living, from stress and chaos, to calm, clarity, and confidence.
Reach out and connect!
I will help you peel off the layers and unearth the secret “resistor” to abundance lurking in the deepest recesses of your mind so that you can truly let go of the labels and limitations to receive the abundance and blessings of the present moment. To work with me in developing a leadership roadmap for you and your team, book a free strategy call at:
Elevating your leadership is not easy, which is where I come in. I help you uncover your Why, build resilience, attract abundance, create effortless success, and design a leadership roadmap specific to your needs. In addition, I provide you with accountability, check-ins, evidenced-based coaching, and professional support from a certified leadership coach credentialed by the International Coaching Federation, an organizational leadership specialist, and an emotional resilience mentor and trainer.
To download my free goal-setting workbook and guidebook, go to:
You can also join the list for my upcoming book “Lead From Your Soul: The Four Worldviews of Inspiring Leaders.”
https://www.subscribepage.com/leadfromyoursoulbydrayaakkari
Come with me; let’s lead together!
I empower busy and ambitious executives, business owners, and professionals to go from existing to living so they can gain clarity on their purpose, unlock their potential, and elevate their leadership. I am a doctor and a certified leadership coach credentialed by the International Coaching Federation; I have earned a master’s degree in organizational leadership and am a certified emotional resilience mentor and trainer. In addition, I have had the pleasure of establishing coaching relationships with leaders from different organizations.
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