“Good girls keep their heads down”
“Good girls don’t raise their voice”
“Good girls don’t ask for more.”
“Good girls don’t question power.”
But what if that definition of a good girl was never meant to make us great women? Today, I’m on a journey with the Women Emerging Expedition, and it hit me like lightning when I read this:
If you have not been taking care of yourself, then you haven’t yet realized that when you can’t lead yourself, you will struggle to lead others.
It made me pause. reflect. cry, even.
Because for years, I minimized me. I believed I wasn’t “enough”. I mistook flattery for direction. I cut off the younger women I could’ve lifted. I believed there was only room for one woman at the top — and it had to be me. I forgot to care for myself. I forgot that leadership isn’t about how boldly you behave in a boardroom. It’s about how deeply you listen to your inner voice. But then came the Reframe. No, I don’t need to jettison everything I’ve ever been taught. I need to reframe it.
- Being empathetic is not weakness — it’s powerful.
- Raising others up doesn’t lower my worth — it multiplies it.
- Taking up space isn’t arrogance — it’s self-respect.
The women on this journey with Women Emerging have echoed the same truth:
Reframe your power. Reclaim your space. Rewrite your story.
So here I am. A work in progress. A woman emerging.
To every woman reading this:
Don’t wait for permission to be enough.
Don’t apologize for your fire.
Don’t shrink when you were born to expand (explore).
Let’s rewrite the rulebook — together!
About the Author:
Pratibha Singh, an MBA (HR) student and President of her university’s Student Advisory Board, is passionate about people and committed to advancing SDG 4 – Quality Education. Her social service journey began with the National Service Scheme. Now, through the Help For Needy Foundation and Light of Life Trust, she trains volunteers, leads impactful events, counsels students, and empowers teachers with AI tools.
