When you are busy carrying everyone else's burdens, it's easy to forget who you are
You've been running on empty for so long, you're afraid to even take a breath. You're the strong one, the one everyone relies on, and you never break under pressure. But all of that strength—the ability to carry the weight of everyone's expectations—might have cost you your sense of self.
When we're busy carrying everyone else's burdens, it's easy to forget who we are. It's easy to forget what makes us happy, or how we like to spend our time when we aren't worrying about other people's problems. We start believing that strength means having no weaknesses, and that vulnerability is weakness. But all of that strength—the ability to carry the weight of everyone's expectations—might have cost you your sense of self.
When you think of a superhero usually they are an enhanced individual or an alien. Think about it, we measure our success and definition of strength to an otherworldly being or enhanced individual. No wonder we get depressed, anxious, or burned out.
But here's the truth: vulnerability isn't weakness—it's power. Strength doesn't mean never questioning yourself or others; it means having confidence in your decisions and trusting yourself enough to be vulnerable with others when things don't go according to plan. And sometimes being vulnerable means asking for help when you need it!
Let’s face it, you were never provided a template, just an expectation to perform and be perfect.
Therapy with Dr. Alexis Melville can help you:
Help you examine, rewrite, and modify your template for success, joy, ease and strength.
Look at patterns learned in childhood and messages from society that keep us stuck and doubting our inner strength
Provide a space to express and name the emotions that you have suppressed in an effort to be strong.