It happened this week. A friendly conversation suddenly turned sharp. The words were wrapped in “concern,” but the message was clear: I don’t believe in you, and I’m going to let you know it. And here’s the thing, when it’s coming from another woman, it can feel especially cutting. We’re told to expect harshness from strangers or “trolls,” but not from people who share our struggles. In the past, I would have replayed the conversation over and over, wondering what I’d done wrong. Now, I do something different. Here are my 5 steps for handling female toxicity without letting it derail your day: 1️⃣ Pause before reacting. Screenshot. Step away. Breathe. No good reply was ever typed in the heat of the moment. 2️⃣ Separate fact from projection. A mean comment is often more about their frustration, insecurity, or bias than about your truth. 3️⃣ Revisit your wins. Pull up the emails from happy clients, the photos from successful events, the kind words from people you’ve helped. Remind yourself of your track record. 4️⃣ Protect your energy. Block, mute, unfollow. Whatever it takes. Boundaries are not petty. They’re self-respect. 5️⃣ Turn it into fuel. Write it out. Share the learning, not the drama. Inspire someone else who’s been there. 💡 The bottom line: You don’t have to fight every battle. Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is keep your focus where it matters, on the people who value your work and your voice. Because one person’s cynicism will never erase your worth.