Redefining Strength: The Unseen Power of Women
LollyWilliams-Gibbs Williams-Gibbs 
Redefining strength this International Women’s Day—because true power isn’t doing it all, it’s knowing when to rest, ask for help, and reclaim YOU. 💜
Redefining Strength: The Unseen Power of Women
Today we celebrate International Women’s Day—a day dedicated to recognising the achievements, resilience, and contributions of women throughout history and across the globe. Social media will be flooded with inspirational quotes, stories of ground-breaking women, and calls for gender equality.
And while those things are incredibly important, I want to take a moment to talk about a different kind of strength. A strength that doesn’t always make headlines. A strength that isn’t always seen or celebrated.
It’s the quiet strength of the everyday woman.
- The mum who wakes up exhausted, running on coffee and sheer willpower, yet still finds the energy to make school lunches and be there for her children.
- The woman who battles chronic illness but refuses to let it define her, even on the days when simply getting out of bed feels like a victory.
- The mum who fights tirelessly for her SEN child, navigating endless paperwork, advocating at school meetings, and standing up for her child in a system that doesn’t always listen.
- The woman who has lost herself in the roles of mother, wife, carer, and employee—but somewhere deep inside, still holds onto the hope that she can reclaim who she once was.
- The woman who has faced heartbreak, setbacks, and challenges that would have broken someone else, but somehow, she still rises.
This kind of strength isn’t flashy. It doesn’t come with medals or public recognition. It’s not the kind of strength that the world stops to applaud.
But it’s real. It’s the kind of strength that keeps families together, builds futures, and drives change from the inside out.
And if you’re reading this, I want you to know—you are strong, even if you don’t always feel like it.
What Does Strength Really Mean?
For too long, society has fed us a dangerous myth about what it means to be a strong woman.
We’ve been told that strength means:
✔ Pushing through exhaustion.
✔ Never asking for help.
✔ Holding everything together, no matter what.
✔ Being everything to everyone.
✔ Not showing vulnerability.
And let’s be honest—we’ve all bought into it at some point.
How many times have you ignored your own needs because you felt like you "should" be able to do it all? How many times have you refused to rest because there’s just too much to do? How many times have you told yourself to stop being "weak" when you were struggling?
But here’s the truth—real strength isn’t about doing it all. It’s about knowing when to stop, when to rest, and when to say, ‘This isn’t working for me anymore.’
It’s about recognising that you don’t have to walk this journey alone.
And let me tell you, as someone who has spent far too long trying to be "strong" in all the wrong ways, the moment I allowed myself to let go of that pressure was the moment I truly found my strength.
My Journey to Redefining Strength
For years, I lived by the belief that asking for help was a weakness.
I thought being "strong" meant handling everything on my own, never admitting when I was struggling, and just getting on with it.
But that mindset didn’t serve me.
It left me burnt out, overwhelmed, and constantly feeling like I wasn’t enough.
The strongest thing I ever did?
I let go of the idea that I had to do everything alone.
I stopped surviving and started designing a life that worked for me—one that allowed me to prioritise my own well-being without guilt, to set boundaries without fear, and to actually enjoy the life I was building.
And that’s what I want for every woman reading this.
Strength Looks Different for Everyone
Your version of strength might not look like mine. And that’s okay.
For some women, strength is speaking up.
For others, it’s learning when to stay quiet.
For some, it’s stepping into a leadership role.
For others, it’s finally allowing themselves to rest.
Strength doesn’t have one definition.
It’s fluid. It changes depending on where you are in life.
But one thing remains true—your strength is enough, just as it is.
Celebrating YOU This International Women’s Day
So, as we celebrate International Women’s Day, I want to invite you to do something different.
Instead of just celebrating famous women or posting an inspirational quote online (though those things are great!), I want you to celebrate yourself.
Take a moment today to acknowledge your strength—the one no one else sees but you feel in your bones.
And I’d love for you to reflect on these questions:
1️⃣ What’s one thing you’ve overcome in the last year that you never thought you would?
2️⃣ What’s one way you can show yourself kindness today?
3️⃣ What’s one thing you’ve been holding onto that it’s time to let go of?
4️⃣ If your child or best friend was watching, what kind of example of strength would you want to set?
Because here’s the thing—you are already strong. You don’t need to prove it to anyone.
But if you’re ready to step into a version of strength that actually serves you, I want you to know that you don’t have to figure it out alone.
This is exactly why I do what I do—to help women like you design a life that actually works for them, instead of constantly feeling like they have to fit into a box that was never meant for them.
You are more than just a mum.
More than just a carer.
More than just a woman juggling a million responsibilities.
You are you. And that’s enough.
Your Turn: Let’s Celebrate Together
💜 Drop a comment below and tell me—what does strength mean to you?
💜 Tag a woman who inspires you and remind her how incredible she is.
💜 If you’re ready to start putting yourself first and designing a life that supports you, let’s talk.
This International Women’s Day, let’s celebrate not just the women who changed history—but the women who are quietly changing their own lives every single day.
Happy International Women’s Day. You are seen. You are valued. You are enough.
