How Childhood Shapes Achievement, Self-Worth & the Feeling of “Never Being Enough” — with Harvard & Stanford Expert Jane Marie Chen

6 snips

Dec 1, 2025

In this thought-provoking conversation, Jane Marie Chen, a Harvard and Stanford grad and social entrepreneur, dives into how childhood experiences shape success and self-worth. She explores why high achievers often feel inadequate, especially children of immigrants. Jane discusses her own journey through burnout and healing, the importance of setting boundaries with compassion, and the innovative 'parts work' method for understanding inner traumas. She emphasizes redefining success and offers practical steps for healing and building community.

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ANECDOTE

Burnout Triggered A Radical Healing Journey

Jane Marie Chen burned out after pouring her soul into Embrace and shutting it down after a decade of work.
She bought a one-way ticket to Indonesia with a surfboard to begin an intense healing journey that led to major insights.

INSIGHT

Achievement As A Trauma Response

Achievement often becomes a coping mechanism for unresolved childhood trauma.
When you rely on external wins to feel worthy, the goalposts keep moving and burnout follows.

INSIGHT

The Weight Of Ancestral Expectation

Children of immigrants often feel pressure to succeed as repayment for parental sacrifice and for belonging.
That pressure can create healthy drive but can tip into unhealthy needing-to-prove behavior tied to not-enoughness.

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