Dear Reader,

I recently finished Jacinda Adern's memoir, A Different Kind of Power, and I've been sitting with a deep sense of resonance ever since I turned the last page.

For a long time, the dominant narrative around women in leadership - perhaps best epitomised by the "Lean In" era (spurred on by Sheryl Sandberg) - was that to succeed, we had to adapt. We were encouraged to adopt more hyper-masculine traits: to be detached, faster, tougher, less emotional, and to fit ourselves into mould built by and for men.

What made Adern's journey so remarkable wasn't just that she led, but how she led. She didn't try to armour up or mask who she was. She broke the mould by proving women who feel deeply, who are intuitive, and who prioritise kindness and compassion are extraordinary leaders - not despite those qualities, but because of them.

It made me reflect on how often society confines feminine qualities like empathy, attunement, and care strictly to the private realm of caregiving. We are taught that these traits are important in the home, but considered liabilities in spaces of power, decision-making, and influence.

Reading Adern's story was such a powerful and validating shift in that narrative.

Sensitivity isn't fragility. Intuition isn't fluff. And kindness is not passive - it is a courageous, active choice to remain open in a world still so full of pain and hate.

True feminine strength doesn't require us to harden up. It asks us to trust that our softness, our capacity for deep connection, and our ability to listen are the very things that give us meaningful influence and impact in our families, our workplaces, and our communities.

As I closed the book, it left me reflecting on a few questions:

Where in your life have you been masking or dimming your own intuitive, sensitive self because you thought it wasn't 'strong' enough? And what might it look like to trust that your softness is already a force?

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this - have you read the book, or felt this tension in your own life? Hit reply and let me know!

With love and warmth, Zac ♥

Dr Zac Elizabeth Buchanan | Clinical Psychologist​
The Return
​drzacelizabeth.com * August WORKSHOP SERIES * @dr.zacelizabeth​