Forbes released its annual list of Most Powerful Women this week and I read it like a giddy second grader whose class list has just been posted. I love to cheer on these astonishingly accomplished women as they soar to unprecedented heights. But this year, in addition to devouring their stories and allowing them to inspire my own dreams, I found myself wrestling with a second set of emotions.

My dilemma began when I read this opening paragraph to the Forbes list. “From CEOs and heads of state to early adopter entrepreneurs, celebrity role models, billionaire activists and philanthropists who are healing the world, Forbes ranks the women who matter most.” Hmm. The women who matter most? Now that sentence I did not find inspiring at all.

Here’s why. I have no argument with the fact that these women  matter. But do they matter the most?  Yes, they are working their proverbial bottoms off to create businesses, cure diseases, transform entertainment and eradicate social issues. And I wish to take nothing away from Hilary Clinton, Oprah Winfrey, Melinda Gates, Sheryl Sandberg, or even Lady Gaga, when I say that they  simply do not “matter the most.” Accomplished? Yes. Amazing? Yes. Admirable? Yes. But to say they matter most sets powerful wheels of self-doubt in motion for too many of us. And I just can’t have that getting in the way of our ability to thrive. Getting caught up in comparing our own accomplishments to those of these women (and feeling we come up short because they matter most) doesn’t serve us one little bit.

Do you know who matters most? You do. You, in all your normal, busy, invisible, messy, imperfect glory. You, who wakes up every day to give your all to whatever lies before you. You, who makes the special lunch and writes the special note to your anxious 3rd grader. You who stays up late prepping for the big meeting so your team will shine. You, who sits with your dog during surgery and takes the day off to be with her during recovery. You, who volunteers to hand-sew sit-upons with a rowdy Brownie Troop after your own long day. You, who reads every parenting book ever written to put an end your son’s tantrums. You who patiently lifts yourself out of debt one foregone latte at a time.

You matter as much as any woman on any list ever written. You, who takes your own mother to every doctor’s appointment and picks up medicines and buys easy-to-zip clothes and alarm clocks with big numbers. You, who brings a hot meal to the friend who just had a mastectomy. You, who remembers every birthday and anniversary with the perfect card sent across the miles. You who campaigns tirelessly for the candidate you believe in. You, who teaches geometry to a room full of 10th graders every single day. You who has survived bouts of depression or years of infertility or the loss of a child and gone on to find a way to smile again. You matter most.

Just thought I’d clear that up. Because while I love to see accomplished women making their mark on the world in a big way,  if you’re looking for the woman who matters most, just look in the mirror. That’s where you’ll find her.

This is a guest blog post written by Eisha Armstrong, President & Owner of Mom Corps Cincinnati.  Mom Corps is a national professional staffing firm that specializes in flexible work options. I’m a big fan of flexible arrangements – I worked 80% and then 60% schedules at P&G after I had my children and now all of our employees at Nourish work with flexible arrangements. Doing so lets us wear the multiple hats we want to wear while keeping our health a priority.

If you’re thinking about going back to work, or about seeking a flexible work option, I hope you’ll  follow Mom Corps Cincinnati on Facebook to keep up with their local job opportunities!

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When we are running ragged dealing with the kids and work and the dog and whatever else we have on our plates, we tend to lose focus and forget about our own health. It’s natural that as a mom, you tend to put others before yourself. Every mom is guilty of that, but doing so can take a toll on your stress levels and ultimately your overall health.

If you consider all the sources of stress, it’s no surprise that work stress is right near the top of your list. These stresses stem from long hours, heavy workloads, and demands from your boss, colleagues and maybe clients or customers. If you are currently in a job that offers little flexibility and synergy with your role as a working mother, the demands from your job can have a negative effect on your health.

These stresses affect you at all different levels. Physically, work stress can often make you feel burnt out, causing headaches and tiredness. Mentally, extreme workloads both at home and at your job can leave you exhausted and overwhelmed. Socially, the time you are spending working or stressing over working is affecting your relationship with your family and friends.

If you are experiencing this stress in your life, you may want to consider a more flexible work schedule. It is proven that greater flexibility in your job can improve your health. For example, in a recent study conducted by the University of Minnesota, it was found that flexible work options can improve the sleep and overall health and psychological well being of employees.

Flexibility does not have to mean part-time.  It can include flextime (the ability to work from 7 am to 4 pm, for example), the ability to telecommute, or even flex career options to ramp up or down as personal obligations change.

Having greater flexibility can help reverse many of the negative symptoms that previous non-flexible jobs caused. Several studies prove that companies that offer flexible work solutions have higher rates of employee satisfaction, productivity, and retention. When employees feel they can balance their work life and home life, the benefits can be seen in reduced health care costs on the employer side and decreased work stress on the employee side.

Being flexible doesn’t simply mean working a part-time position. Flexibility can be defined and utilized in a number of ways. Flexible positions can be considered permanent, temporary, project-based, or even seasonal. That can mean modified workweeks, telecommuting, or simply customized work hours. There are several ways to have a flexible work schedule while still having a fulfilling career.

The good news is that more companies are proactively offering flexible work arrangements to qualified candidates who are seeking greater work-life balance.  If your does not, there are many resources available on how to negotiate a flexible work arrangement with your current employer.

Readers, if you currently have a flexible work arrangement, in what ways would you say your health has improved? If you don’t, in what ways do you think you think you could negotiate for more flexibility?