Firstly, I want to extend a warm thank you for being an amazing supporter of my blog. Thanks for regularly reading it, emailing me back with your ideas and even sharing articles with others who might benefit.

It’s through your ongoing support that I am encouraged to keep exploring and sharing my ideas and thought leadership, to continue to inspire smart women like you to aim a little higher.

WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW

We are living in fascinating and contradictory times right now. The global landscape is marked by uncertainty and rapid change despite many countries having significantly high quality of life, better than ever before.

The COVID-19 pandemic reshaped our world, affecting our health, our economies, and our daily lives – yet we’re living longer than ever on a global scale.

Our social media and regular media news cycles polarise us with attention grabbing headlines that generate fear.

We’ve become hyper vigilant about social and political unrest, climate change, and social divisiveness – which provides constant reminders of the challenges we face at both a local and a global level.

The downside of our modern, digitised, hyper vigilant and switched on, globalised world is that these global issues trickle down, affecting us on a personal level and making it difficult to find a sense of stability and calm.

THE CHALLENGE FOR SENIOR LEVEL WOMEN

For women, especially senior women, these challenges can feel particularly daunting. Many of us have spent our lives and careers prioritising others—children, partners, staff, peers, colleagues and even aging parents — often at the expense of ourselves and our own career progress. After-all, not only do we feel it’s the right thing to do, it’s often expected of us.

Plus right now there are layoffs, budget cuts and a heap of expectations of doing more with less both at home and at the office.

The pressures of maintaining a household, managing ever tightening budgets, navigating a successful leadership career in an increasingly high pressure environment, and even sometimes missing out on ideal opportunities despite putting our best foot forward and even being a standout candidate, can feel overwhelming.

Add to the mix the pushback of sexism, ageism and racism, along with narrow socialised norms which can also contribute to feelings not being enough.

FEELINGS OF NOT ENOUGHEDNESS HAVE IMPACT BEYOND THE OBVIOUS

What you may not realise is that when we perceive ourselves to be not enough, along with the idea that there isn’t enough to go around, we are in a state of scarcity—whether it’s financial, emotional, or physical— and it essentially reduces your IQ.

You read that right – scarcity mode reduces your intelligence. I was so shocked when I first heard this!

According to a range of studies by psychologists such as Eldar Shafir and Sendhil Mullainathan, who conduct research at the intersection of behavioural economics and psychology, scarcity mode undermines the following:

1. Decision-making
2. Cognitive function
3. Creativity
4. Our capacity for problem-solving
5. Our ability to plan ahead, and
6. Even memory can diminish

Essentially, we become less intelligent when we are constantly worried about making ends meet, when we feel like we don’t have enough time or are managing crises.

It’s slows you down, and it causes you to think and play small.

And that’s a shame.

So what can you do about it? I’ve got a range of proven tactics that work for women that we explored at the 2024 Women of Impact Retreat that I’m happy to share …. next week. Keep an eye on your inbox.

In a nutshell, do what ever you can to get yourself back to thinking more abundantly.

As Mariannne Williamson says

“The key to abundance is meeting limited circumstances with unlimited thoughts.”

YOUR THOUGHTS? Drop me a note. I’d love to hear.