The Hidden Cost of Women Always Saying Yes | Dr. Wendy O'Connor‪@dr.wendyoconnorstrategicli5099‬

What happens when being the woman who can handle everything starts costing you yourself? In this episode of Climbing the Corporate Ladder Without Breaking a Heel, Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer sits down with Stanford-trained psychologist and coach Dr. Wendy O’Connor to unpack a pattern many high-achieving women know all too well: saying yes to everyone and everything while quietly saying no to themselves. Dr. O’Connor calls it self-abandonment. It happens when work, family, expectations, and endless obligations consistently take priority over your own needs, values, and well-being. Over time, those seemingly small choices can erode self-trust and lead to burnout, resentment, and feeling disconnected from the life you worked so hard to build. Together, Cynthia and Wendy explore why high-achieving women are especially prone to overfunctioning, how boundaries can protect your time and energy, and why “the answer is no” can be a powerful framework for making decisions that actually align with what you want. You’ll also learn how to rebuild self-trust through small, everyday commitments rather than dramatic life overhauls, and how to start practicing “no” in low-stakes moments until advocating for yourself becomes second nature. CONNECT WITH DR-CYNTHIA LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drcynthiabentzenmercer/ Instagram: instagram.com/drcynthiabentzenmercer Facebook: facebook.com/drcynthiabentzen TikTok: tiktok.com/@drcynthiabentzenmercer