Returning from maternity leave can trigger a crisis of confidence, not from skill loss, but from physiological factors like altered brain chemistry and sleep deprivation. The speaker felt like an apprentice until her boss pushed her through a difficult task, which rebuilt her belief in her abilities.
Clinging to a familiar but unsuitable role for safety can be more detrimental than embracing change. This false sense of security leads to overcompensation and burnout, as the speaker learned. The perceived risk of the unknown is often less damaging than the certainty of stagnation.