It’s Relatable… I Promise!
I don’t know about you, but sometimes I just want someone to hold my hand and reassure me that everything will be fine. No grand speeches, no overly optimistic “you got this” pep talks—just a simple, genuine acknowledgment that things are tough, but I am not alone.
Growing up on the African continent, you quickly learn that pressure is a constant companion. The expectations tower high, and the room for error shrinks small. Society tells us to be strong, to rise above challenges, and to keep pushing forward. Yet, what we rarely discuss is how exhausting it can be.
The Weight of Expectations
From an early age, many of us learn to be overachievers, to shoulder responsibility beyond ourselves. A silent expectation looms: carry family burdens, succeed not just for personal fulfillment but for the collective good. We must embody ambition, innovation, and resilience.
These traits, while admirable, often come at the cost of our well-being. We glorify struggle, normalize stress, and mistake burnout for productivity. But when do we pause to ask: Does this wiring aim to discourage us or to motivate us?
Either way, the reality remains—it is exhausting.
The Missing Piece: Empathy
One of the hardest parts of this journey is the scarcity of empathy we encounter. Society expects us to be strong, to endure, to “figure it out.” But where do we turn for understanding? Who offers space to simply breathe?
I’ve learned that while the world might withhold softness, we can cultivate it for ourselves and others. Sometimes, all we need is to hear: “I see you. I understand.”
A Reminder to Take a Breath
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, stretched thin, or mentally drained, let this reassure you: You are not alone. Give yourself permission to pause, to rest, to admit that things are hard. It doesn’t weaken you—it humanizes you.
We all navigate this journey differently, yet we share the same rhythm of trying, failing, learning, and rising.
So breathe deeply. Treat yourself kindly. Offer yourself the grace the world sometimes forgets to give.
And if no one has told you lately—you’re doing just fine.
