You are not weak if you are stressed

My day job in the events world can be high-stress. There are managing client expectations, employer expectations, and attendee expectations. Most of all, I have high expectations for myself to outdo myself every time. I manage my stress much better than I did years ago, but sometimes it still creeps back and messes with my head.

Somewhere along the way, we were taught that stress equals weakness. That if life feels heavy, we must not be strong enough. That we should always handle it with grace, a smile, and a color-coded calendar.

But that's a lie we've swallowed for too long.

Stress is not weakness—it's a signal. It's your mind and body saying, "This is a lot." And sometimes, it really is a lot. Life piles on: the to-do lists, the expectations, the worries you don't even say out loud.

Letting go of stress isn't about "toughening up.” It's about honoring what's real and giving yourself permission to release what you were never meant to carry forever. Maybe that means taking a break, saying no, asking for help, or even letting someone else handle the thing you swore you'd manage. That's not failure—it's wisdom.

Strong doesn't always look like holding it all together. Sometimes strong is unclenching your fists, taking a breath, and saying, "I can't do it all today—and that's okay.”

You are not weak if you are stressed. You are human. And choosing to let go—piece by piece, breath by breath—is how we make space for peace to come in.

We've got this.