Finding your Personal Bright Line: How to use your story with out compromising your peace

In today's culture of online visibility and pressure to overshare, the mantra of "being relatable" can feel overwhelming. We're told that to truly connect with others and make an impact, we must lay bare our souls on social media, in our writing, and on stages. But as a woman who has spent years studying and practicing the art of public speaking, I've learned that this approach, left unchecked, has the potential to be damaging – and it's not the only way to forge meaningful connections with your audience.

When women are encouraged to be overly vulnerable, to focus solely on their struggles and weaknesses, it often perpetuates a harmful power dynamic. We risk being seen as less authoritative, less competent, and less in control. Our insights and ideas get lost in a sea of oversharing. I've watched brilliant women diminish their own power this way, and I've done it myself.

I want to share how we can break free from this cycle. How we can still harness the power of our personal stories and experiences without falling victim to the current social pressures to once again risk our personal well being for the entertainment of others.