How do you handle the hard days?

How do you handle the hard days?

Lately, my days have felt full of “NO”s. Roadblocks to the work I care most deeply about. Attacks on science and DEI. Some days I truly wonder how to keep going.

But here’s what pulls me through: I lean into my core values—wellbeing, growth, and impact—like roots holding me steady through the mess.

I saw these magnolia trees standing tall in front of the torn up ground behind them, and they instantly reminded me of those values. Even amid destruction, they are steady, vibrant, and quietly powerful. Just like I want to be.

So what are my core values and how do I use them to navigate the hard days?

🌱 Wellbeing: I move my body at the end of each workday—it’s my daily reset. And I fiercely protect time for myself and my loved ones. Even when it feels impossible, I do it anyway.

🌱 Growth: I’m learning to sit with the discomfort of uncertainty. Patience isn’t my strong suit (understatement 😜), but I’m building it. I’m making hard decisions about where to spend my time and energy—and growing through it.

🌱 Impact: Even when the fight is hard, I return to the stories I hear from the Scientist Mothers I am honored to support. Each shift in their confidence, clarity, and wellbeing fuels my conviction—this work isn’t optional; it’s transformative and essential.

The world might be messy right now. But I’m still here. Still rooted. Still growing. And I'm going to keep going.

#MotherMind #LeadershipDevelopment #ScientistMothers #DEI #AcademicLeadership #Resilience #Wellbeing #Growth #Impact