I can’t stand success stories.
Not because they’re lies – but because they only ever tell half the truth.
As soon as something starts to go well in your own life, you stumble across the next perfectly constructed story:
- the founder who seems to earn millions effortlessly,
- or the friend who loses 20 kilos “on the side”.
And immediately the thought returns: Why isn’t my life like this?
THE OTHER SIDE THAT NOBODY TALKS ABOUT
A few years ago, I started to take a closer look. I spoke to people whose stories others admire and asked them:
What made you really successful? And what did it cost you?
Almost all of them talked about discipline, happiness, contacts…
But after a few minutes, something else came to light: sleep disorders, anxiety disorders, loneliness, broken relationships.
- The celebrated teacher had high private debts.
- The woman, who was admired for her iron discipline, felt lonely.
- The founder of a coaching company struggled with depression herself.
None of this fits into the narrative. So it is not told.
THE SILENT PRESSURE BEHIND IT
We measure every facet of our lives against these stories
- Family by the example of the perfect family man;
- A career as a “self-made” entrepreneur.
Success stories are simple. They give us the feeling:
If they can do it, so can you.
What we forget: These people may not have any problems right there – but others we don’t hear about. And even they are often driven by the pressure to constantly perform at their best.
Because their success is also measured. Clicks, likes, articles…
WHAT IF WE TOLD THE STORY DIFFERENTLY?
Instead of polishing the perfect story, we could tell the whole story. Including the doubts. Also about the fears. Also about the victims.
Not to badmouth everything – but to show realistically that nobody can have everything at the same time.
That success always has a price – and that it’s okay not to pay it.
About the author
Als Resilienz-Expertin und REVT-Trainerin begleite ich Frauen, die ihren eigenen Weg gehen – klar, kraftvoll und selbstfürsorglich.
Gründerinnen, Unternehmerinnen und weibliche Führungskräfte finden in meiner Arbeit einen Raum, um durch Herausforderungen zu navigieren, ohne sich selbst dabei zu verlieren.
Mein Fokus liegt auf emotionaler Stärke, Selbststeuerung und echter Selbstfürsorge – nicht, um noch mehr zu leisten, sondern um bewusster, gesünder und wirksamer zu handeln.
SelbstFÜHRUNG statt SelbstAUSBEUTUNG.
Ich verbinde psychologisches Know-how mit unternehmerischem Denken – und bringe beides in Coachings, Workshops und Vorträgen auf den Punkt – für Frauen, die nicht nur funktionieren wollen, sondern erfüllt leben und führen.
Denn: Empowerment beginnt innen.
Und manchmal ist Selbstfürsorge einfach wichtiger.
