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When Grief Meets Greatness: Navigating Loss as a High-Achieving Woman

Jacqueline J
A Woman who is experiencing grief
A Woman who is experiencing grief

Grief has a way of sneaking into our lives, catching us off guard and shaking the ground beneath our feet. For high-achieving, high-impact women, grief brings a unique set of challenges. We’re the ones people turn to for solutions, inspiration, and strength. We’re the visionaries, the trailblazers, the rock for so many. But when grief comes, even the strongest among us can feel adrift.

I know this struggle intimately. Losing my daughter was the hardest, most heart-shattering experience of my life. As someone who has always been driven, always focused on excellence, grief forced me to confront what it means to carry both sorrow and strength. If you’re navigating this delicate balance, know you’re not alone.

We’ve been conditioned to think that showing emotions, especially as women in leadership or high-achieving roles, somehow makes us less than. Let me remind you: grief is not a sign of weakness. It’s a sign of love. It’s proof that you dared to care deeply, to open your heart in a world that sometimes feels so hard.

You’re allowed to feel it all. The tears. The rage. The hollow days when getting out of bed feels like an insurmountable task. Strength doesn’t mean pretending you’re okay—it means allowing yourself to grieve while trusting that healing will come.

Let’s be real: life doesn’t pause for grief. If you are traveling a grief journey, I’m sure you already know this. There are still emails to answer, meetings to lead, and people depending on you. But here’s the thing—grief demands space. And if you don’t give it room to breathe, if you don’t give it the latitude it needs, it will find its way in anyway, often at the most inconvenient times.

Take permission to pause. Not just for others, but for yourself. Whether it’s a quiet walk, a moment of prayer, or simply sitting in your car and letting out a good cry—those moments matter. You can’t pour from an empty cup.

If you’re like me, saying “no” doesn’t come naturally. We’re used to showing up, over-delivering, and being the dependable one. But grief has a way of teaching us what truly matters. It’s okay to turn down invitations, delegate tasks, or set boundaries. Saying “no” is an act of self-preservation, not selfishness. Every “no” is a “yes” to your healing.

Here’s a hard truth: grief absolutely changes you. What used to feel like success might not resonate anymore, and that’s okay. Achievements that once gave you joy, now might feel hollow. Give yourself grace to redefine what success looks like in this season for you, not anyone else.

Maybe success today is making it through without crying during a meeting. Maybe it’s taking one small step toward a project you’ve put on hold. Celebrate those small victories—they’re monumental when you’re grieving.


High-achieving women are often the ones carrying everyone else. But grief isn’t meant to be carried alone. Lean into your people—whether it’s family, friends, or a trusted therapist. Vulnerability doesn’t make you less strong. It makes you human. There’s a beautiful kind of strength in saying, “I need help.” The people who truly love you will rise to meet you in that space.

One of the most powerful things we can do with our grief is use it to create something meaningful. It doesn’t have to be big or public. It could be mentoring someone who’s struggling, advocating for better grief support at work, or simply sharing your story with a friend. Grief doesn’t erase the impact you’re meant to have—it amplifies it. Your pain can become a bridge that connects you to others in ways you never imagined.

Grief is messy. It’s unpredictable. It’s exhausting. It’s a journey. But it’s also a teacher. It reminds us of the depth of our love, the resilience of our spirit, and the beauty of being human.

You are still the high-achieving, high-impact woman you’ve always been—grief hasn’t taken that away. If anything, it’s adding new layers to your strength and your story. So be gentle with yourself. Give yourself grace. And remember, you’re not navigating this alone. Grief is a journey, but so is healing—and you’re walking that path one brave, beautiful step at a time.


Encouragement for the Journey:

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18)

You’ve got this, even on the days when it doesn’t feel like it. And when you need a reminder of your strength, remember: you are a force—grief and all.


JacquelineJ

Grief Advocate, Women’s Empowerment Coach,

Author, Speaker

JJ Smith Consulting









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