A dandelion trying to be a sunflower, when in reality it is more than enough.

Most people think of dandelions as weeds. Somewhere in history it was judged, labelled and dismissed. Yet the truth is far from that. Dandelions are far from delicate. Their roots run deep and strong, they push through concrete, they survive in conditions that would destroy more delicate flowers. They have to fight for their environment. They have medicinal properties that have been valued for centuries.

Yet we overlook them simply because they don't look like what we expect a flower to be.

Sound familiar?

I've been thinking this week about the different versions of me that exist and how many times I've had to appear small or expand myself to fit in. As a woman from the North of England this happens more than I maybe want to admit.

I believe playing small affects many women, especially solo women, who more often than not have to fight that bit harder to get to the top. Often underestimated not just by their bosses but often by their counterparts. And surprisingly this isn't always the men in their lives, but also other women.

A solo woman learns to adapt, and quickly. But often the lack of communication around this still leaves them with inner doubt or frustration. Feeling the desire to be understood and seen for who they really are. And expanding ourselves to fit in can be exhausting, but more so frustrating because we actually have the skills required anyway. More often than not there are fewer of us within the circle to bond with, and that isolation makes it harder still.

They might be an academic, a CEO, an assistant or a solo entrepreneur, but one thing I'm sure of is that every woman knows that they often morph into a different identity to survive.

And just like the dandelion, when we are placed in the wrong environment we can be stifled. Dismissed before we even get the chance to show what we are truly capable of. But in the right environment, with the right support around us, we don't just survive. We thrive.