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“I sacrificed my career for my family”

We hear this so often from many well educated women around us. Is it really a sacrifice we make or is it a choice we exercise. It’s important to understand the difference between the two. A choice is a selection you make out of two or more possibilities while sacrifice is giving up something valued for a more important or treasured option. Choice empowers you, gives you confidence in yourself, and makes you responsible for your decision. On the other hand, sacrifice(in this context) has an undertone of suffering, martyrdom and helplessness.
In our society sacrifice is always looked up to and is a much-lauded character trait, hence making it a tempting recourse. Ostensibly, it makes one feel elated and inflates one’s self-worth.

However, at some intrinsic level it brews up resentment since there is a reluctance in mind and subsequent feeling of loss and vulnerability when you sacrifice. Sacrifice also compounds your expectations and your need for validation from people you sacrifice for thereby complicating a relationship.

Loving others should not be at the expense of sacrificing self love or independence. Your freedom to be yourself and do things that you really want to, gives you your identity. Maintaining your self respect ensures you are not taken for granted. Your physical, mental and emotional well-being is not just for your own self reliance but also for being of help to others hence can never be sacrificed. Any person or situation that robs you of your inner peace, joy or dreams is not worthy of a sacrifice.
Whether you want to be a career woman or a ‘stay at home’ mom, make it your own conscious choice and not a sacrifice.

“Empowered women who reach tough or unconventional positions make CHOICES not sacrifices”- Kiran Bedi

Written by Chitra Goyal, Editorial team