This week I received shocking news. A friend—a fellow professional woman—is diagnosed with stage 4 non-smoker lung cancer. It's already in her brain, and she just had brain surgery. The even more painful truth? The pain is now radiating through her shoulders and spine, and there's a terrifying possibility of it spreading further. And the speed of it all? Just a month. The weight of that news settled in, a sobering reflection on life and death, health and well-being. Beneath all the...
3 days ago • 4 min read
Do you push relentlessly, achieving significant milestones, yet struggle to truly acknowledge your successes? Are your days overwhelmingly dedicated to work, often sacrificing personal time and self-care? Does work-life balance feel like impossible? Does the idea of taking a vacation, a day off, or even a short break stir feelings of guilt? If these questions resonate deeply, it's likely you are navigating the world as an overachiever. Research shows that overachievers often share these...
12 days ago • 4 min read
Have you experienced that nagging feeling of "not good enough" creeping in as you navigate your career growth? The pressure to advance, the endless scroll of seemingly perfect careers and lives on social media? You compare yourself with other people's careers and lives, you feel you're falling short in the social comparison game. If this resonates, you're in the right place. We, as driven professionals, often find ourselves measured against unspoken societal standards. It's a natural human...
26 days ago • 4 min read
If you are a professional Asian woman like me, picture this... You're standing in front of your mirror, rehearsing how to ask for that promotion. Your accomplishments speak volumes – stellar projects delivered, teams led successfully, innovations implemented. Yet, something holds you back... This feeling, this hesitation, is often compounded for Asian women in America, whose career experiences are uniquely shaped by the complex interplay of gender, performance, and cultural biases. The "Women...
about 1 month ago • 4 min read
A social media exchange recently caught my attention: 'Happy people are those who sleep less and hustle.' Having spent years immersed in Silicon Valley's tech culture, I understand the allure – and the potential pitfalls – of this mindset. The 'hustle' mentality paints a picture of relentless effort, a daily struggle fueled by fear. But let's pause and truly ask ourselves: what are we striving for? Is this constant state of 'survival mode' a sustainable path to success? Or is it a relentless...
about 1 month ago • 4 min read
Ever feel like you're stumbling, maybe even like you're failing, but you keep it all inside? That heavy feeling you don't want to share, the fear it'll make you seem weak or inadequate? You're not alone. I've experienced that feeling from time to time, stemming from self-doubt. We can manage our self-doubt, minimizing its impact on our determination to take actions to achieve our goals. This post delves into five emotional challenges I've personally navigated recently and the insights and...
about 2 months ago • 5 min read
Is your current career bringing you the fulfillment you desire? Many professional women contemplate a career change to achieve better work-life balance, yet often hesitate to take the leap. I understand firsthand how easy it is to feel trapped in a job that no longer brings fulfillment, or worse, actively hinders our personal life. Unhelpful beliefs, self-doubt, and fear of change can hold us back and keep us stuck in jobs that no longer serve us. I've personally navigated three career...
2 months ago • 5 min read
Do you ever find yourself constantly comparing your journey to others', feeling lost in social comparisons? Perhaps your life feels like a series of unexpected twists and turns, with fear and doubt often overshadowing the protagonist – you. Life transitions, such as career changes, motherhood, or navigating societal expectations can impact self-confidence. Setbacks like job loss, being overlooked for promotions, or challenges in re-entering the workforce after a career break can further erode...
3 months ago • 2 min read
Do you wake up feeling drained and unmotivated? Do you feel like a deflated balloon, struggling to find your energy? If so, you're not alone. You might be experiencing burnout, a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged stress. According to the American Psychological Association (APA) Work and Well-being Survey: In 2021, 79% of U.S. employees experienced work-related stress in the month prior to the survey. 36% reported cognitive weariness, 32% reported...
3 months ago • 3 min read