Redefining Strength: When Stepping Back Is Moving Forward

Recently, a colleague —who is also a wife and a mom—approached me. 

She poured out her heart about the exhaustion of juggling her business, her family, and an onsite job that left her drained. 

Her words inspired me to write this, in the hope that it blesses another woman like her… maybe even you. 🫵🏻



There are days you look back and miss the times when you were just an employee. Life was simpler. You had a job description, you did it, and at the end of the day you shut the door and went home. You could sleep without your mind racing ahead into tomorrow.


But now? You carry multiple hats—wife, mother, entrepreneur, professional. There’s no off-switch. The business follows you everywhere. Sometimes you go to bed tomorrow instead of tonight 😄. 


You love what you do, you’re driven by passion. But passion doesn’t always feel like enough when the profit is slow to show up. And on tough days, the thought crosses your mind: Maybe life would be easier as a full-time housewife.

Then another voice whispers: Life can change anytime. You don’t want to be stranded.




Maybe, like many women, you’ve taken on an extra role—an onsite job, a side contract, something that came because you’re qualified and capable. On paper, it makes sense. In reality, it drains you. It’s not in your area of strength. Instead of fueling you, it leaves you exhausted and fragmented.


This is where you ask yourself: Should I keep it or let it go?




When you’re torn between holding on and letting go, it helps to lay the options side by side.


Keep the Job – Pros

🔶 Extra income and a financial buffer.

🔶 Keeps you connected to your professional space.

🔶 Offers a sense of security.


Keep the Job – Cons

🔶 Drains your energy.

🔶 Splits your focus between family, business, and work.

🔶 Robs you of peace of mind and rest.


Drop the Job – Pros

🔶 Frees up time for your business and loved ones.

🔶 Creates mental space for clarity and creativity.

🔶 Aligns your work with your natural strengths.


Drop the Job – Cons

🔶 Temporary financial squeeze.

🔶 The feeling of giving something up.

🔶 Less visibility in that role.




When you’re at a crossroads, pause and ask yourself:

  1. Which option takes me closer to the life I want in 3 years?

  2. Which one protects my health and relationships over the next 6 months?

  3. If money wasn’t the issue, which one would I choose today?

  4. What’s the worst-case scenario if I let it go—and do I already have the resilience to handle it?


☘️


You may have normalized exhaustion, but it doesn’t have to be your default. Peace of mind is not selfish—it’s strength. 

Sometimes, the real power move isn’t doing more. It’s choosing less. It’s creating space where you can breathe, think, and show up as your best self in the roles that matter most.

So if you’re standing in this tension, here’s your reminder: saying no to what drains you is also saying yes to the life you want to build.



And to the woman whose story inspired this, and to every other woman reading—may these words give you courage, clarity, and peace.






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