Who taught us that our worth had to be earned? For so many women, the pressure to be good, productive, accomplished, attractive, dependable, and constantly “getting it right” begins long before we ever realize what it is costing us. In this conversation, I sit down with Monica Packer for an honest look at perfectionism, identity, worthiness, and what happens when we begin separating who we are from what we accomplish. Monica shares how striving to measure up shaped her from a young age, how perfectionism followed her even when she thought she had stopped playing the game, and how her healing taught her something powerful: There is no final arrival. Real change is the long game. We talk about allowing ourselves to be human, making room for failure and imperfection, returning to the girl we were before the world told us who we needed to become, and learning to build a life from inherent worth instead of constantly trying to prove it. Monica also shares why the life she wants today looks less like accomplishing everything and more like simple moments, family, nature, creativity, and reclaiming parts of herself she thought she had already found. And when I ask Monica where she sees herself on the Empress Lioness journey, her answer is clear: She is becoming. This conversation is for the woman who has accomplished so much and still wonders why it never quite feels like enough. Maybe you were never supposed to earn your worth. Maybe you were supposed to remember it. ABOUT MONICA PACKER Monica Packer is a recovering perfectionist, writer, podcaster, and certified habits and identity coach who helps women make personal growth sustainable instead of exhausting. Through her work, Monica helps women move away from pressure, performance, and perfectionism and toward greater self-trust, identity, and meaningful progress. Her approach centers on creating lasting change through consistency and compassion rather than shame or the expectation of getting everything right. Monica is also the host of About Progress, a top-rated podcast that has reached millions of downloads and explores practical, imperfect ways to grow while still allowing yourself to be human. CONNECT WITH MONICA Website: https://www.aboutprogress.com/ Listen to About Progress on Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/about-progress/id1173416233 Learn more about Monica:https://www.aboutprogress.com/media Welcome to The Empress Lioness Podcast Conversations, where every woman has a story, every story carries wisdom, and every conversation has the power to change the way we see ourselves.
