When Strength is Heavy - And Why It’s Okay To Be Human
“Strength isn’t the absence of struggle — it’s the courage to be honest about what your heart is carrying.”
This year has taught me lessons about strength that no wellness book, certification course, or mindset podcast ever could.
It’s not the glossy, polished kind of strength we often showcase, but the raw, unfiltered, aching kind—the kind that humbles you, softens you, and ultimately transforms you.
Many of us were raised hearing messages like:
“You’re strong.”
“You can handle it.”
“You’ll figure it out.”
“You’re resilient.”
“Just push through.”
Strength becomes a badge, an expectation, a role we learn to play even when we’re exhausted. But there’s a quiet truth seldom voiced:
“Strength can be heavy. Sometimes, it hurts.”
This year, my strength felt like it weighed a thousand pounds.
A Year of Transitions - and Toll
2025 has been one of the most emotionally tumultuous years of my life, marked by profound loss and unwavering resilience. This year, I experienced moments that deeply touched my soul and left indelible emotional scars.
The heart-wrenching task of packing up and saying goodbye to a beloved home, a sanctuary filled with cherished memories and familiarity.
Helping my 87-year-old father pack a house filled with the echoes of my mother's love intensified my sense of duty and devotion.
A broken arm just days before my move challenged my strength and spirit in ways I never expected.
A cross-country journey with one good arm and my spirited Golden Retriever by my side pushed every ounce of my endurance and will.
The pain of watching a relationship crumble—betrayal, confusion, and an unexplainable sense of loss—ripped through my heart, leaving wounds that time cannot fully heal.
Rebuilding my life anew in unfamiliar surroundings, each step a testament to my resilience.
Continuing to grow my business and earning new certifications, seeking purpose amid chaos.
Turning to faith, I found solace and strength in my connection with God, discovering a source of comfort I hadn't known before.
The grieving ache of losing my mother—whose empathy and presence I desperately missed for nine years—reopened painfully throughout this turbulent year.
Some days, I held everything together through sheer determination; other days, I felt utterly overwhelmed, wrestling with the depths of emotion that defined this challenging year.
“Struggling is not a sign of weakness; it is a testament to our human resilience.”
The Myth of the ‘Strong Woman’ - and the Silent Pressure on Men
We’ve been led to believe that true strength means:
Pushing through pain, even when it shatters us
Staying relentlessly busy to hide our trembling vulnerability
Suppressing emotions that threaten to expose our fragile hearts
Sacrificing ourselves to care for others, often at great personal cost
Never allowing ourselves a moment to breathe or slow down
Refusing to ask for help, carrying unbearable burdens alone
Never falling apart, no matter how heavy the weight
Women often silently endure these burdens, quietly carrying what feels like the weight of the world on their shoulders. Men, too, hide their struggles behind a stoic silence, pretending they are unaffected.
Both paths are isolating, both drain the soul, and both demand more from us than any human heart can bear alone.
But true strength? It’s softer, deeper, more honest than the chaos we have been taught to accept. It’s asking for support, courageously and vulnerably.
This is the kind of strength that can heal, rebuild, and redefine resilience—from the inside out.
Why This Lesson Matters for Wellness
When I began my journey as a wellness and nutrition coach, I promised to walk beside my clients, never above them. Wellness isn’t about perfection or flawless routines, nor is it about strict expectations or checking every box. It’s about brutally honest self-reflection.
To say:
“I’m burned out.”
“I’m overwhelmed.”
“I need to slow down.”
“I’m grieving.”
“I’m anxious.”
“I’m not okay today.”
For weeks, my body has been revealing the toll of a year spent in survival mode, unraveling beneath my skin. Instead of fighting it, I choose to honor it.
This act of acceptance is a quiet form of resilience—an inner strength that grows not from noise or bravado, but from the simple, courageous act of honesty in the depths of our vulnerability.
The Courage to Reset
Recently, I’ve realized that I don’t need to charge into 2026 like a warrior.
What I truly crave is a reset—a sacred moment to breathe deeply, a gentle landing space, a season dedicated to healing and renewal. I must allow myself to embrace my humanity first, before demanding unwavering strength.
For the rest of this year, my simple yet profound intention is to rest, to reset, to recover.
Throughout this journey, I will continue to move forward with gentle care in what truly matters: nurturing my business, studying for my personal trainer certification, walking and caring for my energetic dog, prioritizing my health, and taking one day at a time. I refuse to grind myself into exhaustion, force myself to be productive, or sprint blindly into the next chapter. Instead, I will focus on steady, mindful progress, guided by self-compassion and hope.
“Resilience isn’t built by pushing harder; it’s cultivated through the grace of learning to pause.”
A Message to Anyone Who Is Tired
If you’re burdened by the weight of the world on your shoulders right now, if exhaustion has worn you down from always having to be strong, if you’re rebuilding after heartbreak, loss, trauma, or transition, and if you’re holding yourself together during a season you never chose—please listen carefully:
“Strength does not mean the absence of vulnerability. True strength lies in embracing honesty.”
You don’t have to be strong every single moment. You don’t have to push yourself when your body cries out for rest. You don’t have to pretend you’re indestructible.
It’s perfectly okay to say:
“I need a gentler day.”
“I need support.”
“I need grace.”
“I need rest.”
And simply allowing yourself to do so is enough.
Remember, you are enough.
Looking Ahead: Why Resilience is My Word for 2026
I believe 2026 will be a year of renewal—not because everything will suddenly become easier, but because I am choosing to rebuild from a place of honesty rather than pressure.
I’m learning that rest is an essential part of the journey. I’m relearning to trust myself again. I’m discovering that when I nurture my whole self—body, mind, and spirit—I find a strength that I never knew before.
That is resilience: not the performative kind, but the quietly growing, steady, truthful kind that emerges from within.
If you’re facing a season of heaviness, please remember:
You are not alone.
You are not failing.
You are not weak.
You are healing.
And in that healing, there is profound bravery—and that is the most courageous work you will ever do.
Mountain Mindset
Where does your inner strength ache for a gentle touch today? Perhaps all it needs is a simple, deliberate act: a pause to reflect, a mindful breath, a compassionate boundary, or a fleeting moment of grace.
These small, human acts are the heartfelt steps toward nurturing genuine resilience, reminding us of our capacity to heal and endure.
