The Pressure to Do It All: Motherhood and Work :: Melissa Harrison [Ep 594]

Melissa Harrison is the President and CEO of 4word, an organization that equips professional Christian women to integrate their faith and work through community, mentoring, and leadership development. 4word creates spaces where women can build authentic connections, grow in their leadership, and live out their purpose in every season of life. Melissa brings a unique perspective as a working mom navigating career, family, faith, and the many demands that come with trying to do it all.

About This Episode
What happens when you're trying to be a great mom, a great employee or leader, a good friend, and still take care of yourself? In this conversation, Melissa and I talk honestly about the pressure women feel to do it all, and what can get lost along the way. We talk about the loneliness that can come with busy seasons, why friendship and connection often get pushed to the bottom of the list, and the importance of intentionally making space for people. Whether you're a working mom or a stay-at-home mom, there's an invitation to step back and ask: Who am I beyond the roles I fill, and what would it look like to stop carrying everything alone?

In This Episode, We Talk About:

• Balancing motherhood, career, family, and personal needs
• The loneliness that can come from living in a busy season
• Why friendship and camaraderie are often the first things to go
• Creating intentional connection through consistent, committed gathering
• Recognizing the triggers behind our need to measure up
• Knowing when it might be time to talk to someone and dig deeper
• The challenge of always feeling available to everyone
• Navigating seasons when work and family collide
• The power of mentorship and meaningful community

Connect with Melissa Harrison:

• Website: 4word
• Instagram: 4word (@4wordwomen)
• Facebook: 4word

Links Mentioned:

• Work, Love, Pray: By Diane Paddison
• Tyranny of the Urgent: By Charles Hummel
• Mentor program for women
• BOLDLY Conference - 4word

Related Episodes:

• Corporate Working Moms :: Causha Jolly and Stacey McCabe [Ep 205]
• Working from Home :: Jehava Brown [Ep 288]
• Mentoring for Women in the Workplace :: Diane Paddison [Ep 412]

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