Ambition Isn’t a Dirty Word
I recently started reading How Women Rise by Sally Helgesen and Marshall Goldsmith, and the first chapter struck a deep chord. It talked about how women often feel guilty or ashamed of their ambition. That line hit home for me.
There were times I questioned myself: Am I being too ambitious for my age? For the stage of life I’m in? For the background, I come from? Maybe you’ve had those thoughts too — shaped by subtle messages from family, culture, or society. Sometimes not even told outright, just picked up like background noise growing up.
But here's what I’ve learned — ambition is not arrogance. It's a dream in motion.
The world’s most impactful leaders — women and men — weren’t apologetic about dreaming big. They rose because they dared to see beyond what existed.
I'm thankful to my family and especially my husband, who saw my spark and never tried to dim it. That support has meant everything. But I also believe even without it, ambition should still be honoured, nurtured, and expressed.
To every woman reading this who wonders whether it's okay to want more — it absolutely is. Don’t bury your ambition. Let it breathe, live it out loud, and lead your way forward. The time is now. The world needs it.
Have you ever felt judged for being ambitious?
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