In a world that glorifies hustle culture and celebrates the “just push through” mentality, conversations about self-worth, rest, and emotions often get labeled as weakness. But as mental health therapist and speaker Deanna Pelley reminds us in this powerful episode of The C-Suite Mentor, the real strength comes not from grinding yourself into the ground – but from embracing the gift of being human and knowing when to ask for help. This episode is the encouragement you need to keep going.
Meet Deanna Pelley
My name is Deanna Pelley, and I’m a mental health therapist and speaker with over eight years of experience in private practice, supporting adults and adolescents. I create intentional space for people to explore their stories – the joyful, the painful, and everything in between. When we’re allowed the room to process our experiences, understand our inner world, and confront our pain, we cultivate true resilience.
One of the messages I hope to share as a therapist is this: experiencing hardship and painful emotions is not a sign of failure – it’s part of being human. We cannot bypass pain by simply “choosing positivity.” True resilience comes not from avoidance, but from the courage to feel, process, and grow through what we face.
I see myself as a committed partner in healing, helping people deepen self-awareness, expand their tolerance for discomfort, and become the most resilient, authentic version of themselves – capable of living a rich, meaningful life.
Being human isn’t a weakness; it’s our gift and we need to embrace it.
The Myth of “Having It All Together”
It’s so common for leaders to hide their struggles. We’ve been conditioned to believe that good leadership looks polished and perfectly curated – but in reality, many successful people are privately wrestling with feelings of self-doubt.
Deanna Pelley agrees. In her therapy practice, she hears it all the time: people assume everyone else has it figured out, and that they’re the only ones falling short. But the truth? We’re all dealing with human moments, and pretending we’re not only makes things harder.
“You can’t go through life without feeling bad feelings,” Deanna says. “It’s not possible. Sometimes things feel sad because they are sad. Sometimes things feel happy because they are happy. That’s what it means to be human.”
Why We Struggle to Embrace Our Humanity
Deanna believes part of the problem is that we don’t know how to make space for being human – either for ourselves or others. Somewhere along the line, we started associating vulnerability with weakness. But what if being open about our struggles actually builds deeper, richer relationships?
“The most meaningful relationships I have are the ones where I can bring forward both the good and the bad – and know that it’s okay,” she says.
That includes relationships with clients, team members, and ourselves.
Rejection Doesn’t Mean You’re Not Meant for It
For entrepreneurs, creatives, and leaders, rejection is inevitable. But as Deanna reminds us, we can’t let the fear of disappointment stop us from trying.
In fact, getting your hopes up is part of what makes life rich and full. W i me don’t grow by playing small. We grow by letting ourselves want things – and by building the resilience to handle the bumps along the way.
Where Does That Voice Come From?
Deanna explains that the “it’s never going to work” narrative entrepreneurs tend to tell themselves often didn’t start with business at all. More often, it goes way back – sometimes to childhood – becoming a core belief we carry into adulthood.
It’s a defense mechanism, she says. “We think that if we expect failure, we’ll be less hurt when it happens. But disappointment comes either way.” And in entrepreneurship, when something isn’t working, it’s often not a matter of deserving or not deserving – it’s a matter of tweaking the approach.
Sometimes what makes perfect sense to us as experts doesn’t land with our audience. That doesn’t mean we’re not good enough – it means we need to adjust our messaging or method. Flexibility is key.
We expect things to unfold a certain way. When they don’t, we panic, resist, and double down on the original plan – even if it’s clearly not working. But what if the messy, unexpected route is exactly the one we need?
Slowing Down Isn’t Failing
Deanna opens up about her own business journey, which has moved much slower than she expected. But in that slowness, she’s discovered what really matters: rest, relationships, and building a business that supports a full, balanced life.
She’s learned to say no. To let go of artificial timelines. To trust that success doesn’t have to come fast to be real.
Toxic productivity has snuck into our culture: bragging about not taking a sick day, hoarding vacation time like a badge of honor. But that kind of constant hustle only deepens self-doubt and burnout.
Taking time for yourself doesn’t delay success – it supports it.
Building the Self-Worth Muscle as an Entrepreneur
Like going to the gym, building your confidence and sense of worth is a process. Deanna offers practical starting points:
Identify the Voice of Doubt: Ask yourself – whose voice is that? Where did it come from? Often, the doubts we carry were planted by others and reinforced over time.
Name Your Value: What do you bring to the table? What is your unique strength or passion? That core drive is your compass.
Accept the Imperfections: Self-worth isn’t about being perfect. It’s about embracing your whole self – even the parts you’re still working on.
Ask for Help: One of the strongest things you can do is reach out. Deanna shares how she leans on her support system – her sister, long-time friends, and even a great guy she met on Tinder – to remind her of her worth when she forgets.
Resources Mentioned
👋 Connect with Deanna Pelley on LinkedIn
💻 Join me every Friday at 10 am on LinkedIn for my free workshop
☕️ Schedule a Virtual Coffee with Theresa
📝 Uncover Your Biggest Blindspots with the Entrepreneur Quiz
Related Episodes
Toxic Productivity: 3 Steps to Right the Ship When There’s a Bottleneck in Your Team
How to Overcome Entrepreneur Imposter Syndrome with Katy Hommes | C-Suite Mentor
