Balancing Career and Mental Health: Strategies for Women in the Workplace

In this powerful story, a researcher unexpectedly finds herself thrust into the public eye after a TED Talk goes viral. Despite advice from her therapist and husband to avoid reading online comments, she couldn’t resist. The criticism she faced was deeply personal and unrelated to her work, leading her to retreat emotionally. One particularly difficult morning, after reading more hurtful comments, she spent hours watching Downton Abbey to escape reality.

However, a simple search about the historical context of the show led her to a life-changing quote from Theodore Roosevelt. This quote, known as the “Man in the Arena” speech, emphasized that credit belongs to those who show up and take risks, not to the critics on the sidelines. This realization sparked a shift in her mindset. She understood that vulnerability isn’t about winning or losing, but about showing up and being seen, no matter the outcome.

This revelation empowered her to embrace her creative ambitions and face the inevitable criticism. She decided that only those who were also “in the arena” deserved her attention, freeing her from the burden of negative feedback. She realized that numbing vulnerability only leads to more misery, as it also numbs joy and gratitude. By embracing her imperfections and vulnerability, she found strength and purpose.

This personal transformation also extended to how she approached parenting and societal expectations, advocating for authenticity over perfection. Her journey underscores the importance of courage, vulnerability, and the belief that we are all enough, even in the face of adversity.

After this transformation, she embraced the idea that life’s true value comes from stepping into the arena — from being brave enough to take risks, make mistakes, and face criticism. She accepted that failure was an inevitable part of daring to create and innovate, and that the only people whose feedback she cared about were those who were also daring to take risks themselves.

This newfound resilience reshaped her view of vulnerability. She recognized that numbing vulnerability—through distractions or self-doubt—only blocks us from experiencing the full range of emotions. Whether it’s the pain of rejection or the joy of success, we can’t selectively numb feelings. She argued that many of the issues we face today, like addiction and disconnection, are the result of trying to avoid emotional discomfort. By allowing ourselves to feel vulnerable, we also open the door to gratitude, joy, and a more meaningful life.

Her reflections extended to the broader societal issues of perfectionism and control. She criticized how society tries to perfect everything — from our appearance to our children — instead of accepting imperfection as part of the human experience. Her belief was that embracing struggle and teaching the next generation that they are worthy of love and belonging, despite imperfections, would lead to healthier, more fulfilled individuals.

Ultimately, her story is about courage and faith. She emphasizes that true leadership and success don’t come from conforming to external expectations but from authenticity. Her journey from the researcher who avoided the spotlight to someone who embraces vulnerability is a testament to the power of showing up fully, flaws and all, in both our personal and professional lives.

This message resonates with anyone seeking to live more authentically, reminding us that vulnerability is not weakness but a path to deeper connection, creativity, and fulfillment.

As she embraced this new mindset, she also began to see vulnerability as a key component in relationships and personal growth. The researcher learned that the fear of being judged or failing often keeps people from pursuing what they truly want. By allowing herself to be seen — imperfect, vulnerable, and open to criticism — she felt more connected to her work and the people around her. The same philosophy applied to her personal life, where she encouraged others to lean into discomfort and embrace the uncertainty that comes with love, creativity, and ambition.

A major part of this journey was her realization about parenting and societal expectations. She noted how society often pushes parents to aim for perfection, expecting children to be flawless and achieve high success from a young age. However, she believed that this pressure to mold children into ideal versions of themselves robs them of resilience and self-worth. Instead of trying to make children perfect, her new outlook focused on teaching them that they are “imperfect but worthy of love and belonging.” By accepting this, both children and adults can embrace their struggles and grow from them instead of fearing failure or judgment.

Her story also touched on the idea of perfectionism and how it infiltrates various aspects of life, from our personal goals to how companies and institutions operate. She pointed out that society often pretends that our actions don’t affect others — from corporate misdeeds to personal failures — and this mindset creates disconnection. Her call to action was for people and organizations to own their mistakes, be authentic, and take responsibility for their impact on others.

In closing, the researcher shared that the greatest lesson she learned was the importance of believing that “we are enough.” When we operate from a place of self-worth, we stop striving for perfection, stop fearing vulnerability, and start engaging with the world in a more meaningful way. Whether in leadership, personal relationships, or creative endeavors, showing up authentically is the key to living a fulfilling, wholehearted life.