She Leads Confidently
Rewrite Your Past: A Blueprint for Women Leaders in 2025
Welcome to Episode 128 of She Leads Confidently, the podcast that’s your ultimate guide to rewriting your story, reclaiming your power, and stepping into the leader you were born to be. I’m your host, Karen Barno, a women’s leadership expert, CEO, author, and someone who has walked through fire to discover her most powerful self. In this transformative episode, we’re diving deep into a topic that resonates with every woman leader who’s ever felt stuck, lost, or unsure of her next move: How to rewrite the narrative you’ve been telling yourself and unlock your full potential in 2025.
Does This Sound Like You?
- You’ve climbed the career ladder but feel disconnected from the woman you used to be.
- You go to bed at night wondering, “Who ram I, really?”
- You’re tired of living by the limiting beliefs and narratives handed to you by others.
- You’re ready to stop playing small and start living boldly.
If you nodded along, this episode is for YOU. Together, we’ll explore how to transform your inner dialogue, silence self-doubt, and heal the parts of yourself that have been holding you back.
The Journey to Your Blue Rose
The Blue Rose symbolizes new beginnings, uniqueness, and enlightenment. It’s the unattainable made possible—the very essence of stepping into your fullest potential. In this episode, I’ll share my journey, including the pivotal moment in October 2022 when I sat on the side of a stormy road and realized my life needed a complete rewrite. I’ll guide you through:
- Recognizing Your Story: What do you tell yourself when no one else is listening? How does it shape your reality?
- Rising Above Limiting Beliefs: Learn how to reframe the false narratives that have kept you small.
- Thriving in Your Calling: Discover how to align with your true purpose and take bold steps toward the future you’ve always dreamed of.
Why This Matters
As women leaders over 45, we carry layers of cultural conditioning, self-imposed limits, and external criticism that shape how we see ourselves. But here’s the truth: You are not the sum of other people’s opinions. Your worth isn’t tied to what you can give to others or how much you can endure. It’s time to rewrite the story, reclaim your power, and shine.
A Personal Invitation
I see you. I see the leader within you, the one who’s ready to stop hiding and start thriving. Whether you’ve faced trauma, self-doubt, or the weight of expectations, this podcast episode is here to help you rise. Through the Blue Rose Framework, I’ll guide you step-by-step to uncover the most powerful version of yourself.
This isn’t just inspiration—it’s a call to action. Grab a journal a cup of coffee, and let’s map out your most extraordinary year yet.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
- How to identify and rewrite the subconscious stories keeping you stuck.
- The connection between self-criticism and the energy you attract in life.
- Practical tools to rebuild confidence and set empowering boundaries.
- Real-life strategies for thriving in your unique calling.
- Insights from my journey as a CEO and author who’s walked this path.
Let’s Make 2025 Your Year
It’s not just about setting goals—it’s about becoming the woman who achieves them. In 2025, I want you to look back and say, “I owned it.” I want you to thrive, to heal, and to embrace your Blue Rose—your unique, extraordinary self.
If you’re ready to step into your power and light up your life, this episode is your roadmap.
Call to Action: 🌟 Ready to own 2025? 🌟
Join me in this transformative episode of She Leads Confidently and take the first step toward rewriting your story and finding your Blue Rose. Subscribe, share, and let’s make this year your most powerful yet.
Rediscover You: Reclaim Your Power, and Lead Like Never Before
Ladies, let’s get real. As women leaders, we give so much of ourselves—to our teams, families, and everyone who needs us. But how often do we pause, reflect, and ask, What do I truly want? What do I need to thrive? In this heartfelt episode, I open up about my own journey of rediscovery—a journey fueled by holiday reflections, personal breakthroughs, and a commitment to finally rewrite the story I’ve been telling myself for decades.
From facing imposter syndrome and self-doubt to overcoming habits that didn’t serve me, I share the raw, unfiltered truth of what it takes to reclaim your confidence and step into the powerful woman you were always meant to be. If you’ve ever felt stuck, criticized, or like you’re playing small just to keep the peace, this episode is for you.
💡 Here’s what you’ll take away:
- The three life-changing questions that helped me reconnect with who I really am.
- Why keeping promises to yourself is the key to building unstoppable self-esteem.
- How to rewrite your inner story and step into the leader—and person—you’ve always wanted to become.
- Permission to thrive, be happy, and show up as your authentic self—because you deserve nothing less.
✨ This holiday season, let’s unwrap the greatest gift of all: the gift of rediscovering you. You are good enough, brilliant enough, and worthy of stepping into your power. And if you need a reminder, just look to my book, Blue Rose Bookstore: Sanctuary for Your Soul. It’s a guide to transforming your story and finding your way back to the confident, courageous, and unstoppable woman you were born to be.
Tune in, get inspired, and remember: the power to change your life starts with the decision to take that first step. Let’s take it together.
🔗 Listen now and let’s make 2025 your most transformative year yet. 💙
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EPI #126 Shadow Work for Women Leaders
Why Shadow Work Matters for Women Leaders
Welcome to ‘She Leads Confidently’ the podcast dedicated to guiding women leaders on a transformational journey of reclaiming their confidence, power, and potential. I’m your host, Karen Barno, and in today’s episode, we’re diving deep into one of the most transformative personal development practices: Shadow Work.
What if I told you that the qualities you suppress, deny, or fear could hold the key to unlocking your next level of success and fulfillment? Shadow Work is the courageous process of exploring these hidden parts of ourselves—the traits we disown, the emotions we suppress, and the stories we hide behind. Today, we’ll explore how embracing this work can elevate your leadership, relationships, and personal power.
What is Shadow Work?
Shadow Work originates from the psychological theories of Carl Jung, who described the shadow as the parts of ourselves we reject because they feel unacceptable or uncomfortable. These can be traits like anger, selfishness, vulnerability, or even power and ambition—especially for women leaders raised to “play nice.”
In leadership, unresolved shadow aspects can manifest as imposter syndrome, perfectionism, overworking, and even self-sabotage. When left unchecked, the shadow limits our potential. But when we face it, we can transform our deepest wounds into our greatest strengths.
Key Takeaways:
- The shadow includes repressed qualities, emotions, and desires.
- Shadow Work involves bringing these hidden aspects into conscious awareness.
- Facing the shadow leads to self-acceptance, emotional freedom, and enhanced leadership.
Why Women Leaders Struggle with Shadow Work
Women leaders often face societal expectations that make embracing their full selves challenging. Society conditions women to be nurturing, agreeable, and accommodating while suppressing assertiveness, ambition, and even anger. These qualities, when disowned, create inner conflict that manifests as burnout, resentment, or feeling “not enough.”
Let’s face it—many women fear being labeled as “too much” or “not likable.” In leadership roles, this pressure to conform can cause them to downplay their power, stay silent, or overwork to prove their worth. These dynamics make Shadow Work not just helpful, but essential.
Personal Insight:
I’ve struggled with this myself. For years, I denied my ambition and leadership ability, fearing rejection or criticism. But embracing those “shadow” parts of myself helped me reclaim my voice, power, and purpose.
Reflection Questions:
- What qualities or emotions were you taught were “unacceptable” as a leader?
- When have you hidden your brilliance, strength, or ambition to fit in?
How Shadow Work Can Transform Leadership
When women leaders integrate their shadows, they become unstoppable. Reclaiming disowned traits like assertiveness, ambition, and even vulnerability allows them to lead with authenticity and impact. Here’s how Shadow Work enhances leadership:
- Self-Awareness and Emotional Intelligence:
Recognizing triggers, emotional patterns, and unconscious beliefs lead to better decision-making and stronger relationships. - Authenticity and Confidence:
Leaders who own their stories inspire trust and loyalty because they show up fully as themselves. - Resilience and Power:
Facing fears, failures, and past wounds strengthens resilience and courage in the face of challenges. - Influence and Impact:
Leaders who integrate their shadows lead from a place of compassion, authenticity, and true power—not fear or ego.
Real-Life Example:
Think about powerful leaders like Oprah Winfrey, who openly shares her past struggles, transforming her personal story into a global message of empowerment. She has integrated her shadow aspects—failure, rejection, and hardship—and used them as stepping stones toward greatness.
Practical Shadow Work Exercises for Women Leaders
Ready to begin your Shadow Work journey? Here are practical exercises to explore and integrate your hidden potential:
- Mirror Journaling:
- Write down traits in others that trigger you—those you admire or resent.
- Ask: “Where does this quality exist in me?”
- Story Reframing:
- Identify a negative story you tell yourself about your past.
- Rewrite it from a place of strength and learning.
- Inner Dialogue:
- Hold a compassionate conversation with the parts of yourself you suppress.
- Ask: “What do you need from me?”
- Embrace the Power Pose:
- Stand in front of a mirror, embodying your most powerful, confident self.
- Claim the qualities you’ve been taught to suppress, like ambition, assertiveness, or leadership.
Pro Tip:
Shadow Work isn’t about “fixing” yourself—it’s about embracing all that you are. The power you seek is already within you. It’s time to reclaim it.
Overcoming Resistance to Shadow Work
Let’s address the elephant in the room: Shadow Work is uncomfortable. It asks you to face your deepest fears, shame, and past failures. But avoiding the shadow keeps you stuck in patterns of self-sabotage, burnout, and underachievement.
Here’s how to overcome resistance:
- Acknowledge the Fear: Facing the unknown is scary, but staying stuck is scarier.
- Start Small: Begin with minor triggers or recurring emotional patterns.
- Seek Support: Consider working with a coach, or therapist, or joining a supportive group like the Blue Rose Sisterhood.
- Celebrate Wins: Every insight gained is a victory on your path to wholeness.
Reclaiming Power Through Shadow Work
Shadow Work is not just personal growth—it’s leadership development at its deepest level. When women leaders reclaim their hidden potential, they step into a new era of personal power, authenticity, and impact.
Remember: The qualities you hide are often your greatest strengths waiting to be unleashed. By integrating your shadow, you become a leader who leads from wholeness, not perfection—a leader who transforms lives, starting with your own.
If this episode resonated with you, I invite you to:
- Subscribe to Find Your Blue Rose for more transformational content.
- Share this episode with a woman leader ready to reclaim her power.
- Join the Blue Rose Sisterhood, where we explore transformational leadership, self-worth, and empowered resilience.
Thank you for being on this journey with me. Until next time, remember: Your power isn’t found by being perfect—it’s found in embracing all that you are. Reclaim your Blue Rose and step into your greatness.
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