Are We Chasing the Wrong Kind of Success? The High Cost of Toxic Achievement Culture with Jennifer Wallace

Why does it feel like no matter how much we do, it’s never enough—Including—and especially—in our mothering? It’s no wonder we feel this way! Societal changes have created a culture that ties worth to performance, often at the expense of our health and happiness, while macroeconomic trends that have shifted the way we think about work, education, and success, making it entirely focussed on external standards of achievement. In this thought-provoking episode, I sit down with Jennifer Wallace, journalist and author of Never Enough , to dive into the toxic achievement culture that’s shaping our lives—and the lives of our kids. Together, we explore how this relentless pursuit of external success is leaving us exhausted, disconnected, and questioning our self-worth. We also dig into what really matters—connection, purpose, and a sense of belonging—and how we can reclaim these values for ourselves and our families. Join us as we go deep into our own personal journeys as women and moms, and along the way talk about: The Cost of Toxic Achievement : Macroeconomic trends—like rising inequality, job instability, and the increasing cost of living—are amplifying the push to achieve at any cost. But the evidence is clear: more external success doesn’t lead to happier or healthier lives. What We’ve Lost : The modern obsession with productivity has left less time for the things that truly nourish us—community, hobbies, connection, and learning for its own sake. The Power of Mattering : Kids thrive when they feel valued for who they are, not what they accomplish. And it’s up to us as parents to model that sense of worth by healing our own relationship with achievement—including feeling that the our kids’ success is a measure of our own worth, from where they were born to how long they breastfed to what schools they go to and who they are as adults. Healing Generational Wounds : Unexamined beliefs and "ghosts" from our own upbringing often push us toward extrinsic measures of success. By addressing these wounds, we can break the cycle and redefine what matters for ourselves and our kids. Reclaiming What Matters : Research shows that relationships—not status or money—are the strongest predictors of happiness, fulfillment, and resilience. We explore practical ways to prioritize relationships, joy, and intrinsic fulfillment over endless striving and external rewards. If you’re ready to let go of the pressure to achieve and embrace a more meaningful, connected life, this episode is for you. Share it with a friend who might need the reminder that they’re already enough, and let’s start a movement toward true fulfillment—together. This episode is a compassionate call to reevaluate what really matters. The relentless push for more isn’t the path to happiness, for ourselves, or for our kiddos. Instead, it’s connection, purpose, and a sense of belonging that truly nourish us. 📖 Never Enough by Jennifer Wallace offers even more insights and is a must-read for parents and caregivers. 💬 Let’s continue this conversation on Instagram: @DrAvivaRomm . Looking for supplements for yourself and your family, including some of those I talk about in episodes? You can find those - and your 15% discount on every order here: avivaromm.com/supplements Mentioned in this episode: Looking for supplements for yourself and your family, including some of those I talk about in episodes? You can find those - and your 15% discount on every order here: avivaromm.com/supplements