The questions I stopped asking myself: "Should I do this?" and "Do I have a reason not to do this?"

Turns out: wrong questions.

#difficultwomen #strategicrefusal

There's a specific face people make when you reflect their pattern back at them.

I can only describe it as: briefly short-circuited.

#difficultwomen #boundaries

Yay! You said "no".

You want to feel good about it. And you should! But that's not what happens.

Instead, guilt raises its ugly head.

No matter how often tell yourself: "don't feel guilty, there's nothing to feel guilty about", it still does. Every single time.

#difficultwomen #strategicrefusal

1/ Who knew? Boring is wonderful tactic to maintain boundaries.

You know why?

Because it gives the recipient nothing to latch on to.

A boring, flat toned "No", "I can't", or "That doesn't work for me." is matter of fact. Doesn't invite negotiation.

But...

#difficultwomen #boundaries

1/ The story of Semiramis was so incredible (to men) that later historians decided she must be a myth. She wasn't. Or, if she was, she the model was the very real: Shammuramat, regent of Assyria, 811 BC.

#difficultwomen #trailblazingwomen #historyofwomen

Us #difficultwomen won’t be shutting up for 3%

Just sayin’

That tired voice asking "why did I agree to this again?" You know it well. The standard advice isn't wrong. The problem is timing.

Read more in this week's Substack article (published on Tuesday).
Link follows in comments.

#difficultwomen #breakingfree #patterninterrupt

What breaks a lifetime pattern of self-sacrifice are not epiphanies or revelations. They're great motivators but fizzle out fast.

4 things the women who actually changed have in common.

#difficultwomen #breakingfree #selfpriority
1/

1/ Self-priority isn't the same thing as pampering yourself.

It's prioritizing your needs, wants, and desires. And proactively getting them met.

All conditioned out of you.

#difficultwomen #selfpriority #breakingfree

1/ Most boundary advice aims at the wrong target. How to get them to respect your limits. How to make them stop asking. Directed entirely at other people.

#difficultwomen #boundaries

1/ You can't out-think a conditioned habit, any habit actually, in real time.

Habits work at the subconscious level which is way, way, way faster than conscious thought.

#difficultwomen #breakingfree #patterninterrupt

Automatic self-sacrifice doesn't feel like a choice. You've already said yes before you notice you did.

Learn to recognize the signals your body sends before the pattern completes.

#difficultwomen #breakingfree #selfpriority

Shaming yourself when you slip-up? Don't.

Laugh.

Laugh at your slip-ups. It takes away everybody's ammunition (including yours) and helps you go again tomorrow.

Happy Let's Laugh Day, you delightfully contradictory, self-aware woman.

#difficultwomen

You were going to speak up more.

Someone talked over you.

You waited, then rephrased your point as a question so it wouldn't seem like a challenge.

We've all done this. Including the woman writing it.

Yes, including me. Absolutely, including me.

I still laugh at it.

#difficultwomen

Your word for this year was 'no.'

You've said it four times.

You've also said 'of course, happy to!' approximately forty times, with a smile.

Not defeat. Only how deep the wiring goes.

Not defeat. Only how deep the wiring goes.

Not defeat. Laugh it off. And keep at it.

#difficultwomen

You resolved to stop apologizing for what doesn't need an apology.

You've said sorry twice already since opening your eyes. (And it's only an hour later.)

Your resolution is real. The reflex older.

Both are true. Give yourself some grace. Laugh at it.

#difficultwomen

Happy Let's Laugh Day.

For the woman who genuinely does not care what people think, who also spent 20 minutes deciding if that text was too blunt.

You're not alone. We all do this. All of us.

Keep at it. Most of all: keep laughing at slip-ups. It helps to keep at it.

#difficultwomen

Here it is again, the great service that #DifficultWomen and #WhistleBlowers bring to their communities.
#auspol

The wicked little secret to reclaiming lots of time and why spending them on frivolous joy spreads the benefits wide and far.

Enjoy! (link coming up in comments)

#difficultwomen #strategicrefusal

However we can surely say that we need change - we need to end patriarchal hierarchies built on violence, dominance and exploitation and create equal societies where caring for people and nature is the primary value, not a subordinate sphere.

#DifficultWomen of the world unite!

#bluetwitter

Which post, when... no?

but anyway...
@albomp.bsky.social #corrupt #warmonger #racist #sexist #zionist #pedophile #traitor #spineless #footstool #environmentalvandal #fascist #nazi #rightwing #coalition #conman #bogan #difficultwomen @australianlabor.bsky.social #guillotine #australia

Celebrating #IWD26 with the magnificent difficult women of Limerick

Thank you ROSA Limerick

#difficultwomen #Limerick #IWD

It actually doesn't take much to be considered a difficult #woman. That's why there are so many of us. By Jane Goodall

It actually doesn't take much to be considered a difficult #woman. That's why there are so many of us.

By Jane Goodall

#intersectional #intersectionalitymatters #mentalhealth #socialjustice #humanrights #equity #discrimination #stigma #mentalhealthmatters #ymhc #janegoodall #difficultwomen

#IWD #difficultwomen
May we grow them; may we nurture them; may we build them up & hold them up; MAY. WE. FUCKING. BE. ONE. 💪🏼

Be

as

#difficult

as

you

can

today

#sistas

#iwd

Only #difficultwomen can

#destroythepatriarchy

Be loud
Be proud
Be irksome
Be bold

#sistas are doing it for themselves

music.youtube.com/watch?v=e0Ii...

Happy International Women's Day especially all the awesome, smart and snarky women I know who keep me in line when needed and contribute so much.

Yes, this especially includes the difficult women. Keep going.

#IWD #kvinnedagen #InternationalWomensDay #difficultwomen

International Women's Day | United Nations The purpose of the day is to uphold women’s achievements, recognize challenges, and focus greater attention on women’s rights and gender equality to mobilize all people to do their part.

www.un.org/en/observanc...

#RightsJusticeActionAndJusticeForAll

The un theme is a bit different to the corporate one…. 🫶
#DifficultWomen

Jane Goodall on the Big Issue.

Bought this today. You know why. #DifficultWomen.

Gabrielle Rose dispelled two for the price of one: women slow down after [age]. Bodies slow down after [age].

She didn't listen to either of them. She just swam.

(Nina can swim fast too, when she isn't all tuckered out.)

#difficultwomen