By Linzy Joy NKRUMAH-GENTLE
As we celebrate International Women’s Day, I find myself reflecting on perhaps the most fundamental challenge women face across generations and cultures: the courage to be authentically ourselves in a world filled with external expectations.
Women today navigate a complex web of often contradictory demands—be ambitious but not intimidating, be beautiful but natural, be nurturing but not a pushover.
The pressure to conform can be overwhelming, leaving many of us feeling like we’re performing rather than living. But I’ve come to believe that true freedom comes from self-acceptance. Self-acceptance isn’t about becoming someone new; it’s about rediscovering who you were before the world told you who to be.
It requires letting go of perfectionism, seeking validation from within rather than without, and defining success on your own terms. This journey isn’t easy, but it’s perhaps the most important one we’ll ever undertake.
To embrace your true self in a world that often seems determined to shape you into something else requires intention and courage. Here’s what I’ve learned on my own journey:
- Know yourself beyond labels – You are more than the roles you play—daughter, student, professional, partner, friend. These are aspects of your identity, not the sum of who you are. Take time to understand your core values, desires, and passions independent of others’ expectations.
- Let go of the need for approval – Your worth isn’t defined by others’ opinions of you. When you measure your value through external validation, you give away your power and set yourself up for constant disappointment. Learning to approve of yourself is revolutionary.
- Redefine beauty and success on your own terms – Society has narrow definitions of both, but true fulfillment comes from aligning these concepts with your personal values. What does success look like for you? What makes you feel beautiful in your own skin?
- Give yourself grace – Authenticity isn’t a destination; it’s a practice. Some days you’ll feel more aligned than others, and that’s okay. Growth takes time, and perfection isn’t the goal—consistency and self-compassion are.
- Surround yourself with authenticity – The company you keep profoundly impacts your ability to be genuine. Seek out relationships that celebrate your real self, not those that require you to diminish or alter who you are to fit in.
When a woman stands confidently in her authenticity, she creates a powerful ripple effect. She not only frees herself but also gives others permission to do the same. In a world where young women face unprecedented pressure to present curated versions of themselves—especially on social media—choosing authenticity becomes a radical act.
As we mark International Women’s Day, I challenge us all to consider how we might live more authentically—not just for ourselves, but for every young woman watching and wondering if she, too, can break free from expectations and be herself. You are enough, just as you are. Own it. And in that ownership, you’ll discover not just freedom, but the power to transform the world around you, one authentic moment at a time.
>>>the writer is a multi-faceted media professional, storyteller, TV/Radio host, voice actor and brand ambassador. She can be reached via [email protected]
