328: Overcoming Superwoman Syndrome
School of Self-Image
Tonya Leigh
4.8 • 1.2K Ratings
🗓️ 15 March 2023
⏱️ 22 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Overcome Superwoman Syndrome: Prioritize, Say No and Get Help
SUMMARY
This episode is dedicated to all the superwomen out there who are trying to do it all and be it all. Host Tonya Leigh explains how many women find themselves in the predicament of trying to fulfill multiple roles such as being a career woman, mother, wife, friend, daughter and more while also trying to maintain high standards in each role. This is referred to as the Superwoman Syndrome, a term coined in the 1980s by Dr. Marjorie Hansen Chavez in her book The Superwoman Syndrome. Women may feel guilty or ashamed if they cannot meet their own expectations and feel like they need to do and be everything to everyone.
The Superwoman Syndrome is a condition which leads to burnout, stress, and other negative health outcomes. People afflicted with the syndrome are not prioritizing their self care, playing, or resting, as they are too busy trying to live up to the expectations of others. To get out of the toxic cycle of the Superwoman Syndrome, one must understand the root of the fear and deal with it.
Additionally, they must be willing to say no to things that are not important to them in order to help them focus on their most important priorities. Finally, they must acknowledge that this may mean disappointing some people, but it is necessary in order to take control of one's life.
Here is what we cover in this episode:
0:00:00 Exploring the Superwoman Syndrome: A Conversation with Self-Image Coach Tonya Leigh
0:02:54 Understanding the Causes and Consequences of Superwoman Syndrome
0:04:34 Facing the Fear of Not Being Good Enough
0:09:25 Prioritizing and Saying No
0:13:37 Self Care, Saying No, and Being Imperfect
0:15:38 Tips for Entrepreneurs
0:17:57 The Benefits of Hiring Help: Taking Advantage of Available Resources
Quotes:
There's a thing where you can get a dog sitter. There are all these amazing apps with help at your fingertips, and yet a lot of you refuse to take advantage of it. Why? Why aren't you getting the help that you need?
To overcome superwoman syndrome, you're going to have to be willing to be imperfect and to realize that it's a beautiful thing. Because that means you've accepted yourself as you are. And you're showing up in your most expansive self. And expansive does not mean perfect. Expansive means true.
I'm not good enough, and I'm afraid of being found out. So let me put on this facade and pretend that I am perfect. This is what superwomen do.
Even when you make mistakes, even when you fail, even when it's not all buttoned up and buttoned up and tidy, you're still extraordinary. You're still amazing.
Let me tell you all, resentment is a telltale sign that you may be suffering from Superwoman Syndrome. So pay attention if you're feeling resentful or angry or frustrated on a daily basis. Those are three emotions that often indicate that you have this syndrome.
Stay connected!
-
FREE Download: Self-Image Manifesto
-
Connect with Self-Image Coach Tonya Leigh:
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | I'm dedicating this episode to the woman who is trying to do it all and be it all. |
| 0:07.6 | I'm dedicating this issue to all of my super women out there, so let's dive in. |
| 0:13.3 | Welcome to the School of Self-Image, where personal development meets style. |
| 0:18.0 | Here's your hostess, master life coach, Tanya Lee. |
| 0:30.4 | Hello, my beautiful friends. |
| 0:34.9 | Happy day, whatever day you're listening to this. |
| 0:39.3 | I just had a moment that I feel like all of you can relate to. |
| 0:46.0 | Tell me if this sounds familiar. You have your schedule for the day. |
| 0:52.8 | You have work that you are going to focus on and all of a sudden you start to get calls from |
| 0:59.8 | your parents or your children or maybe it's your boss or maybe it's a co-worker or maybe it's |
| 1:08.3 | a best friend and they're all needing something from you. And you're in this predicament, |
| 1:15.4 | trying to figure out what you should do. And there's a part of you that knows that you don't |
| 1:23.2 | need to be doing all the things and yet you find yourself trying to do it all. |
| 1:30.2 | You find yourself saying yes to all the things and then wondering what in the world did I just do |
| 1:37.2 | and how am I going to accomplish it all. Can you relate to that? |
| 1:43.4 | I know you probably can because it's a phenomena and it actually has a name. |
| 1:50.1 | It's called The Super Woman Syndrome. This phrase was coined in the 1980s by Dr. Marjorie |
| 1:58.7 | Hansen Shavitz and she wrote a book on the topic called The Super Woman Syndrome and basically |
| 2:06.7 | it refers to when women fill the need to excel in multiple roles such as being a career woman, |
| 2:15.1 | a mother, a wife, a friend, a daughter and more and doing that while also maintaining high |
| 2:20.4 | standards in each role. It's women who feel like they have to do everything and be everything |
| 2:26.5 | to everyone and they feel guilty or shamed if they cannot meet those expectations. |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Tonya Leigh, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of Tonya Leigh and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.