06/23/2025
The Silent Grief Around Success
A challenge I never counted on — not as a therapist, not as an entrepreneur, and certainly not as a woman who has always believed in the power of persistence — was being told that having a child might be “probable but not possible.”
There’s a grief that lives quietly beneath success. For many women, myself included, we poured our energy into careers, into building something meaningful. And now, when it’s time to shift focus toward growing a family, we’re met with silence, fear, shame… and too often, devastating news.
Infertility is not just a medical condition. It’s a mental, emotional, and spiritual journey — one that no one really prepares you for. And it can be incredibly lonely.
I’ve found support in my partner, family, and close friends. But the depths of my fear, feelings of inadequacy, and heartbreak have only truly surfaced in therapy, through journaling, and in my private conversations with God.
Recently, in a brief elevator moment, another woman and I shared our fertility struggles in passing — no details, just mutual knowing. We were heading into a place we both dreaded and hoped for at the same time. That moment reminded me how many of us are silently carrying this weight while still leading, working, and showing up strong.
I don’t know how my journey will end. But I’m sharing this now in hopes that someone else feels less alone, less ashamed.
Infertility is a shame trigger. It is a mental health issue. And we need to start talking about it — especially among women who are leaders, caretakers, and high achievers… because we’re often the last to give ourselves permission to grieve.
If this speaks to you, I see you. I’m with you.
