In a world that glorifies hustle, we’re taught that resilience looks like speed. Pushing through. Bouncing back. Keeping up appearances so no one sees the parts of us that are tired or frayed.
After trauma, this belief digs in deeper. We’re praised for “getting on with it.” For being busy again. For “doing so well.” But what if true strength isn’t in pushing, but in knowing when to stop?
I remember feeling guilty for needing rest. I worried people would think I was being lazy or dramatic. So I kept moving, even when my body begged for stillness. I told myself: “keep going or they’ll think you’re weak.“
But the truth is, my body wasn’t betraying me by slowing down. It was guiding me. Every moment of exhaustion was not failure, it was wisdom. A message: “Pause. Breathe. Trust that healing needs softness, too.“
If you’ve ever felt that same guilt, for cancelling plans, for needing more sleep, for not “bouncing back” fast enough, know this: your worth is not measured by your speed. Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is to lie down. To listen when your body says, “This is enough for today.”
Next time you feel that push to keep going, try this: put your hand on your chest. Close your eyes. Say to yourself, “Rest is not weakness. Rest is repair.” Then give yourself permission to slow down, not as an apology, but as a commitment to your healing.
Need a reminder? Save this short 35 second video and replay it when guilt whispers that you should be doing more -you don’t have to rush to prove you’re strong.
🧡 Key Takeaway
Healing is not about speed. Sometimes, the bravest thing you can do is pause.de of survival, there’s space, not for who you were before, but for who you’re becoming now.
💬 Please share this video if you know someone who needs to hear it too.
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