Julie Vander Meulen

In a world that often celebrates perfection and predictability, many women find themselves shrinking to fit the mold of the "Good Girl", polished, responsible, and always accommodating. But beneath...

Every high-achieving woman has felt that unsettling, whispering doubt in the back of her mind, one that tells you you’re a fraud despite all the evidence of your brilliance.

From your earliest memories, family interactions play a powerful role in defining who you become. For many high-achieving women, the roots of Good Girl Syndrome trace back to the subtle yet...

Every day, countless high-achieving women silently bear the weight of expectations that aren’t truly theirs. Good Girl Syndrome isn’t just a set of behavioral habits; it’s an invisible pressure...

Burnout isn’t always about being overworked, it can stem from the deep-rooted pressure to always be the “good girl.” Many high-achieving women feel compelled to put others first...

At the cusp of adulthood, many millennial women find themselves in the throes of a quarter-life crisis, a powerful mix of doubt, disillusionment, and the burning desire to reclaim their lives.

Every day, the echoes of Good Girl Conditioning, those relentless “shoulds” and “oughts,” can keep you in a state of constant distraction and self-doubt. When your inner dialogue is dominated by...

For too long, the pressure to always be the “good girl” kept you confined. You played it safe, over-delivered, and catered to every expectation, often at the expense of your vision, creativity, and...

You’re confident, capable, and successful yet there’s a subtle pressure you feel each day to be agreeable, accommodating, and effortlessly put-together. This pressure doesn’t come from within...

From an early age, girls are taught to be polite, accommodating, and obedient. These lessons, woven into family interactions, school experiences, and media portrayals, set the stage for what we now...

If you have ever felt like being the good girl meant ignoring your needs, hiding your struggles, or constantly striving to do more, you are not alone. This article explores how self-compassion is the missing piece in healing from Good Girl Syndrome.

Julie Vander Meulen is a transformative force in women’s empowerment. With a distinguished academic background including multiple advanced degrees, pioneering research, and dynamic public speaking...

You excel at getting things done. You’re praised for your diligence and your knack for keeping the peace in the office. Yet, somewhere deep inside, there’s a persistent sense that you’re not fully stepping into your power. This quiet, internal sabotage is Good Girl Syndrome at work – a conditioned script that may be the silent killer of your career growth.

You smile. You nod. You say, “Of course!” while your stomach churns and your to-do list explodes. You’re known as the reliable one. The thoughtful one. The one who always shows up.

You can feel it in your chest, can’t you? That weird, tight swirl of guilt, dread, and please-don’t-hate-me anxiety when you even think...

You know that quiet, gnawing frustration? The one that whispers “You’re made for more” right after you’ve just crushed a deadline...

You know what you want. You just can’t seem to say it. Not without overexplaining. Not without that tight-chested guilt. 

In the world of leadership, where decisiveness and assertiveness are often key, many ambitious women find themselves hindered...