Are you the one who emerges as a source of comfort and support for everyone else? In adversity, do you step up to the plate and do what needs to be done? Do you rise to the occasion? Are you the one who is there for everyone else no matter what you have going on in your own life?
You faithfully invest in others, but who is looking out for you? Who has your back? Who helps carry your problems?
As the strong ones, we typically don’t go around asking for help. And even though we proudly wear this trait like a badge, we aren’t always fully appreciated.
You feel pressure at home and pressure at work. Your family is depending on you. Your friendships aren’t exactly what you need. Your spouse is on your nerves, the kids are always making noise, and people just don’t seem to understand how much is on your plate.
It’s easy to get overwhelmed with being strong. We may even become a bit resentful in the process. We suppress our desires, our thoughts, and even how we feel, in order to look after the people in our world.
There comes a point where you need to face those dreams of yours and be honest about what you really want. Admitting that you are struggling isn’t a sign of weakness; it is a sign of being human. Even the most firmly rooted tree can break branches in a storm. Strength does not mean we are invincible. It means we have the capacity to push through the pain and heal.
Therapy is a safe place to move through the pain and heal. You need a safe place where you can be the real you. A place where you can talk about whatever you need to. You need a place where you don’t have to be the strong one all the time.
What dream have you been putting off because you’ve been so strong?
Carrie
