Raising Girls Who Lift Each Other Up
There’s a feeling that’s hard to describe unless you’ve experienced it. You walk into a room, maybe it’s a group of women in person, maybe it’s a virtual space, and there’s an energy that feels different right away. Women are sharing what they’re working on, what they’re building, what they’re proud of. Someone celebrates a win, and instead of comparison or competition, you hear genuine excitement. There’s curiosity, encouragement, and a sense that everyone is rooting for each other.
“That’s amazing.”
“I’m so proud of you.”
“Tell me more.”
And when things aren’t going well, when someone shares a struggle or a setback, the response shifts just as naturally. There’s understanding, support, and space to be real without fear of judgment.
“I’ve been there.”
“You’re not alone.”
“You’ve got this.”
Of course, moments of comparison still show up. There can be that flicker of imposter syndrome, the thought of wondering if you measure up. But the difference is in what happens next. The instinct is not to tear someone down to feel better. The instinct is to rise together, to recognize what someone else is doing and let it inspire you rather than diminish you. It’s about celebrating her success while still believing in your own path. The energy in a space like that is powerful. It feels expansive, uplifting, and safe. And every time I experience it, I find myself thinking the same thing.
This is what I want for our girls.
Too often, girls grow up in environments where friendship feels uncertain. Inclusion can shift quickly. Comparison can turn into judgment. Celebrating someone else can feel risky, like it might somehow lower their own standing. So instead of rooting for each other, they hold back. Instead of lifting each other up, they stay guarded. Over time, that shapes how they experience friendships and how they see themselves.
Girls are not wired to tear each other down. They learn it, which means they can also learn something different. They can learn that another girl’s success does not take anything away from them. They can learn that cheering someone on strengthens connection. They can learn that being supportive does not make them less important, it actually deepens their relationships.
This starts with the conversations we have at home. We can help them notice moments where they saw something good in someone else, or where they had an opportunity to encourage someone. These uplifting conversations will not just change how they show up. They will also change how they see others showing up.
You might ask
“Did anyone today do something nice for you? Or say something nice?”
“Did you support or encourage someone?”
“Doesn’t it feel good to celebrate others?”
At the heart of all of this is a deeper need. Girls want to feel like they belong. They want to feel like they are part of something bigger than just themselves. When they experience friendships rooted in support and encouragement, that sense of belonging grows stronger. They begin to feel safer being who they are, and they start to take more social risks because the environment feels more secure.
Imagine a group of girls who walk into a room and feel excited for each other. They celebrate wins openly. They stay close during hard moments instead of pulling away. They believe there is space for all of them. That is the kind of friendship that changes everything. That is the kind of environment where girls thrive.
This happens when we intentionally show them what it looks like to connect, support, and rise together. This is the standard we can hold. Not perfect friendships and not constant harmony, but a culture where girls understand that they do not have to compete for belonging. They can create it together, and lift each other up along the way.
With Heart,
Coach Sheri
