Title: Fear of Too Much (Shed & Shine Ep. 8)
Length: ~15 mins
Description:
“Too loud. Too ambitious. Too emotional.” In a culture that rewards smallness in women, being labeled “too much” is often a tactic to enforce norms. In this episode, Sarah explores why these systems exist, discusses the research behind these norms, and shares how to channel your “much-ness” energy with the yogic lens of Brahmacharya and the Buddhist Middle Way.
What You’ll Learn:
- Why “too much” critiques are bias in disguise (and how to spot them)
- How to turn bigness into focused, values-aligned influence
- Somatic and language tools to show up without shrinking
Practice Card:
- Lion’s breath ×3 to discharge tension.
- Translate apology into clarity: “I care deeply; here is what I have to offer; here is my ask.”
- Take up one bit of space today (voice, role, or room request).
Reflection Prompt:
Where did I learn I’m “too much,” and what gift lives inside that bigness?
Resources Mentioned:
- Eagly, A. H., & Karau, S. J. (2002). Role congruity theory of prejudice toward female leaders. Psychological Review, 109(3), 573–598.
- Epitropaki, O., & Martin, R. (2005). From ideal to real: A longitudinal study of the role of implicit leadership theories on leader–member exchanges and employee outcomes. Journal of Applied Psychology, 90(4), 659–676.
- Gelfand, M. J., Raver, J. L., Nishii, L., Leslie, L. M., Lun, J., Lim, B. C., Duan, L., Almaliach, A., Ang, S., Arnadottir, J., Aycan, Z., Boehnke, K., Boski, P., Cabecinhas, R., Chan, D., Chhokar, J., D’Amato, A., Ferrer, M., Fischlmayr, I. C., … Yamaguchi, S. (2011). Differences between tight and loose cultures: A 33-nation study. Science, 332(6033), 1100–1104.
- Bryant, E. (2009). The Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali: A new edition, translation, and commentary. North Point Press. (Brahmacharya)
- Hanh, T. N. (1998). The heart of the Buddha’s teaching: Transforming suffering into peace, joy, and liberation. Broadway Books. (Middle Way)
Let’s Connect:
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