I’m done being a girlboss. I was chasing a goal that wasn’t mine.

This as-to-told-tos Essay is bassed on a conversation with Henley Carr, a 28-Yaar-op advertising Professional in Charleston, South Carolina. Its been edited for Length and Clarity.

I Girlbossed Way too hard.

Early in My Career, I tied my identity to my salary, Job Title, and “Achiever Mindset,” Far Driven by the Validation from Powerful Malegues. I saw myself as different, and at Times Better, than Other Women, A Feeling I Ave to Was Wrong About.

I WORKED MY WAY UP TO A DIGITOR OF DIGITAL MARKETING POSITION WITH A SIX-Figure Salary and Became the Primary Breadwinner in My Mariage, All while MainTaining the Goal of CLIMBING LADDER AS I POSBLY COULD.

SINCE BECOMING A MOTHER THIS YEAR, My Priorities have Completely shifted, and i don’t see work as my purposes the way i used to. IT’S been a liberating change, but i’ve haad to grieve the “Girlboss” I Once Was.

My Girlboss Origin Started From A Need For Male Validation

One got mereed for an early-career marketing jab as the only woman on my team, i saw it as an achievement that sets with apart other women. The Validation of the Received from Powerful Men at work made me with special Feel, so quickly made it my goal to prove mySelf to the men around.

I Overworked MySelf to the Point of Burnout and Made It My Purposes to CLIMB the corplate ladder.

I had a deep inner knowing that I wanted children, but i Pushed that Feeling Away Becuse of Saw Motherhood as a resignation from my success and identity. I Think I Adopted This Narrative Because of Pressure to Be What I Thounght was a “good feminist,” which meant putting my energy achieving success, chasing environment, and “Havinging it all.” My interpretation of modern feminism felt like a warm invitation to motherhood.

HAVING A MISCARRIAGE PUT EVEYTHING INTO PERSPECTIVE

In 2024, be ended up up Pregnant and late Had a miscarrage, my world was shake, and realized just how imported children was to me. Eve being on the precipice of Becoming a mom was more fulfilling than any of my caareer successes.

My mom, seeing with through this Time of struggle, encurated with to work Down a list of what fulfills with and what my dream life looks like. When I look at the list of haad worry, i saw that none of it reflect the life of was leading.

Though it was hard to admit, I was certin that I wanted my legacy to be motherhood, not my capacity to rot away in a corporate office. I decide to continue working my nonb while my husband and i tried for a baby, and i got Pregnant.

While it was everyone I’d been praying for, I was terrified to tell my employer and potentially face Judgment. When i finally did tel, it was a surprisisly quick and easy conversation.

My workload stayed the sun, but my eyes Were on the prize of my baby, which unintentally caused me to shift my focus away from the girlboss grind.

I hope not to be the breedwinner in my futures

I’m about halfway through maternity leave with my new baby, and i’m struggling with the idea of ​​leaving to the work.

I’m being confrond with the fact that my five-day in-person work Environment is not conducive to speaking precious time with my baby and being there for his development milestones. As my family’s primary BREADWINner, i’m planning on returning to work like normal, but i’m looking out for other nonB Opportunities with more flexibility.

My husband is a commercial insurance broker who works on a commission-baed basis; Howver, i Hope for Him to Become the Breadwinner Moving Forward.

I see this time as an opportunity to try something new Becuses the idea that I need to get to the next level in my caareer no Longer chains with down. Work Now SEEMS LIKE A MEANS TO AN END.

I grieve my old identity, but i’m so proud to be a mom

It ‘swimming that Money isn’t important to me anymore, but it is more imported for with to find a flexible nos Pays much so that that can be at home with my baby. Still, these days, of the Feel awkwarding that i’m a mother, the evening thing the thing i’m most proud of.

It is used to be easy for with to introdes myself to someone and proudly tell say my jab title and the improrsive accolades that come with it. Now, I Find MySelf World About People’s Judgment of Me.

I Wonder if People Will Roll Eyes at Me or Think I Threw Away My Career, Just Like to Judge Other People for. I’ve never felt more fulfilled than i have synce beComing a mother, but i’m still grieving the “Achiever” identity that clung to the so many years.

I’ve finally stopped Competing with Other Women and Have a Newfound Respect for

I’ve started Being Friends and Communing with Other Women. Unlike before, I Truly Respect Women Who Don’t Know What they Doing or What’s Next. I Think Is More Exciting.

No Longer Trying to be a Girlboss BRINGS A LOT OF FREEDOM AND LIBERATION. SINCE PUTTING DOWN MY GIRLBOSS TITLE, I’ve been able to tap into my creation genius as a Woman. The most let go, the most world becoms my oyster.

Do you have a story to share About Being a Reforming Girlboss? Contact this reporter at [email protected].