I was held under duress, pinned against the wall by my husband. One hand covered my mouth, and the other held my shoulders, “don’t speak, and just listen.” I had to follow his orders; otherwise, there would be consequences. “Today is your last day; you will walk out, leave the company, and resign as CEO and director. I will take care of everything. Trust me on this!”
I froze, couldn’t speak, my body paralyzed, scared, not knowing the outcome. Selling the business, dissolving the partnership, and getting a divorce.
What was I going to do? How was I to survive? Where was the next dollar coming from to feed my three children?
Golden Cage Syndrome
This is a psychological phenomenon as high-achievers and CEO, trapped, and handcuffed to their perfect lives. Women limit their authentic heart, soul’s true desire and purpose, act to fit in, conform to others and the world, and do not listen to their inner-knowing and spirited rise of true happiness.
My professional responsibility made me feel comfortable even though it blinded me to a constant pattern of drowning in scarcity. I spent decades building my career. The fear of losing it all felt like a fish out of water.
This privileged prison looked enviable from people’s perspective on the outside. What I displayed was a “having-it-all” prestigious career and lifestyle, trips away for business and pleasure, financial security, social status and recognition, earning praise, and awards for accomplishments. It’s called the Perfectionism Loop and playing the Comparison game.
Breaking the Handcuffs
Silent struggles, suffocation lead to constant exhaustion, masked as dedication, chronic people pleaser, reoccurring behaviors that never fulfilled my soul, fear of disappointing my clients, shrinking myself to be liked by staff, clients, my husband, and society.
Continuous feeling of emptiness, difficulty saying “no,” always overachieving to prove myself that I am worthy, good enough, and valued.
Portraying false identities, not expressing my true emotions, bottling up my emotions felt safer. I said, “Everything is just fine.” Most of the time, my survival tools defended my actions. My success came at a cost emotionally with constricting constraints to avoid confrontation or vulnerability.
The Hidden Cost of Success—Sacrificing Wellness for Achievement
One day, I was sitting in my living room, gazing at all my certificates, diplomas, and Bachelor of Science, “What do they all mean to me?”
I had an epiphany that shifted my perspective. Deep down, external achievements—the titles, made me realize why I did it: to prove my worth at that time, I didn’t value myself enough. Lacking an understanding of who I truly was.
Your MBA won’t heal your emotional burnout...it won’t transform your life to the next level, and it won’t break your fear. Do you really know who you are with all those identifiers?
“Time to heal the invisible traumas holding you hostage.”
Aha moment
“In the corporate world of cosmetic surgery, I realized the psychology of the human mind through what appearance means to people, papering over sometimes unacknowledged interior pain with exterior cosmetic work.”
Recognition
The day I walked out from my Cosmetic Medicine and surgery, all those heavy chains wrapped around my neck, wrist, and ankles, those false identities about who I was back then, unshackled.
I healed and severed ties and shattered constraints. The freedom felt like an innocent bird who had been “locked away,” forgetting what it felt like to be set free. I let go of the unknown, rose into clarity, and received a renewed mind and body—fully empowered, fully me.
Breaking from the Invisible Prison
The accumulation of chronic stress certainly didn’t help my auto-immune illness, systemic lupus, and fibromyalgia. I no longer wanted to continue the war of fighting with myself.
“Have you outgrown your qualification?”
The deep emotional grief and unspoken words of pain are calling you for help, and you’re ignoring the signs because you’re too busy.
Surrendering the pain and shedding outdated labels and societal expectations is not a sign of weakness but a sign of bravery and deserves to be heard. Ending of my marriage, the unmet expectations, stepping away from my company. I recognized the collective heavy burdens I was carrying forward, from past generations, their patterns and behaviors, and it’s no one’s fault. But you have 100% total personal responsibility to change it now.
“When was the last time you scheduled an appointment with yourself for your well-being?”
