Seen and Supported

As we celebrate women in leadership, let’s take a second to look at the person behind the title. Most of the women in our lives are caregivers, providing support for the people in our lives across multiple generations. This causes us to think very holistically about our families and the organizations we are a part of, and inspires us to put our whole hearts into everything we do.

The ability to see people and organizations in this light can lead to women making empathetic, passionate leaders, but can also create stress in our lives as we juggle all of the demands on our time. In a recent survey by the American Psychological Association, women across the country reported high levels of stress with money, family responsibilities, and relationships as key stressors. Many women report feeling that their stress is not understood by the people in their lives, and indicate a lack of partnership with their spouses. The survey also discovered that women are struggling to talk about the stress they are feeling or to ask for help.

As we enter into this Holiday Season, take a second to check in with the women around you. Ask them how they are doing, while assuring them you really want to know the true answer. Send them an email or a quick text with encouragement or gratitude for something specific you appreciate about them. Set time aside to ask what you can do to support them or if there is anything extra you can do to help them in this busy season. Most importantly, pray for them. 

And to my fellow women in leadership, it’s time we take stress a bit more seriously. This is our one, beautiful life that was gifted to us by our Loving Father. Be sure you make the most of it by caring for you as well as the people you love. 

For mental health resources or to take a step towards health and healing check out www.sarahproemsey.com.