What being Responsible means to Women Leaders and how it is affecting our Joy Quotient?

“Which aspects in your life do you feel you are not good enough?”, I asked the women inside The Rose Sisterhood session this week.

And one woman leader answered, “I feel I am not a good enough daughter. I am not being able to spend as much time with my parents who stay in other city as I would like to”.

And as we delved deeper, we realised there is a pattern. Her parents are old. However they have a loving community around. They have house help plus a driver. They are living a warm comfortable life.

What we realised is, She did not trust anyone else. She wanted to be there for everything. At her parents’s palce as well as her home too.

It was not a ‘I am not good enough daughter’ situation, it was a delegation problem. It was her own projection thinking she is not a good enough daughter. Her parents did not feel that way at all.

Many women feel this. As women our sense of responsibility is so high that we feel legally obliged to perform our duties. As a mother, as a leader, as a daughter, as a sister and as a friend. We put such high benchmarks for us in terms of responsibility that over time we stop living our life with joy. Being responsible becomes our sense of achievement even when it is killing us inside.

Close your eyes and feel into your shoulders. Do they feel heavy? There, is your sign of responsibility that you are carrying.

Are you sleeping well? No. There, is your sign of an over stressed body because of responsibility.

Many women today are feeling this burden of responsibility which is eating up their joy.

Did you know we can be responsible along with being playful too?

Let’s see how:

• Responsibility towards children
  Most of us worry about our kids. Will our kids be able to survive if we take up that project? Or travel? Or go for our dream role? Or become a leader?
  
  Worry doesn't equate to how much you love someone.

  I don't worry about my son, friends or clients.

  I believe in people. People are designed to get through. When we worry it implies that we or they won't. That's a heavy energy. 

  For example... 

  I equip my son with inner wisdom and strength. So when the sh*t comes they're as prepared as they can be emotionally, physically, intellectually and spiritually. 
  

  When they are not they have built a pool of people in their network to have their back and be there.
  
  Build that support system for your children.
  

• Sense of Responsibilty - Reality Vs Projection
  As my client realized her sense of responsibility and the guilt was self projected. Examine your responsibilities and ask yourself whether it is a reality or a self projection.
  
  Is the opposite party even expecting you to be there doing everything?
  
  

• Resistance to Delegation
  We all feel no one can do the job or task the way we do it diligently and meticulously.
  
  But is it even remotely possible to be everywhere doing everything?
  
  I gave my client a powerful question to ask herself to realise what she needs to do and what can be delegated - “Is doing this task or taking up this responsibility the best use of my time, energy and gifts?”
  

  If not, delegate. This will change your whole perspective towards work and responsibility.
  

• Bring the Joy
  I had to mature soon to cater to an ailing mother and later support my family financially. I lost the child inside me with the burden of these responsibilities.
  
  But you know what? You do not have to kill the joy in order to be responsible. That is the society’s definition of being responsible and mature.
  
  Ask yourself, “How can I bring play along with my responsibility?”

And now stand up, stretch your body and shake your shoulders.
Let the baggage go.
Keep your right palm on your heart and say to yourself,
“I am responsible.”
“I am playful.“
“I know when to delegate.”
“Every time I delegate, I am giving a chance to someone to grow.”

And as my mentor Megs says, I invite you to read and take on this email and see what resonates for you. Even read it a few times this week, and you will catch something new each time.

Hit reply,

Vent.

Speak out.

Share it out.

Speak out what is your truth behind closed doors, and you wish to untangle.

​All women are so fucking courageous in their soul that they are made to navigate this. I have never met one that is not.

All women are so fucking unique, yet we can seem to unknowingly block how we feel and experience ourselves - when such depths of how we see, taste and be who we are genuinely is SUBLIME.

Your reply could be your micro step to admitting to yourself that you are ready to change the way you approach these times, your existence because you MATTER. It could acknowledge how your self-development journey is so committed, yet you have never celebrated it.

Enjoy......

I love you all.

Xx Pradnya xX

PS: I have one of its kind programs for women who want to join back work or are looking at applying for their dream role but are not sure how! The Phoenix is for women like you. Come join us on an exhilirating journey here.

The juicy things happening in my life in upcoming weeks...

1. I will be replying to all of you who email me your insights on this newsletter.
   

2. For the entire month of June, I am talking about how to return back to work post a break with confidence and power irrespective of the gap duration.Join the conversations here.
   

3. Navigating Working Mom Guilt is here to download.
   

4. Are you ready to stand out at your work place with authority? However not sure how? Join the next cohort of The Rose Sisterhood. Your place to start your journey for that 35% hike, promotion, role change or saying ‘yes’ to a leadership role - https://bit.ly/4aaczRk