When You've Been Strong For Too Long | Selfgentle 20

This episode is part of the Two Minutes of Selfgentleness with Femke series. Some tiredness doesn't come from one hard week. It comes from years of holding things together, being the one who manages and shows up, carrying more than any one person should carry alone. This episode sits with that particular exhaustion, the kind that builds slowly and often goes unnamed. You don't have to earn rest by first proving how much you've done. If you would like to explore selfgentleness more deeply, you can find Femke's Self-gentleness courses on Insight Timer. You are also warmly invited to join Femke's Selfgentleness Hour, a free live session on Insight Timer every second Friday of the month.

Transcript

Welcome to two minutes of self-gentleness with Femke. You are tired. Not from this week. Not from one hard thing. But from years of holding it together. You became the one who manages. Who shows up. Who doesn't fall apart. And you got so good at it! That people stopped noticing it was an effort. Maybe you stopped noticing it too? But your body keeps count. And something in you knows this is not sustainable. And that's not because you're weak. It's because you're human. And you have been carrying more than one person should carry for longer than you should have had to. You don't have to justify it. You don't have to prove how much you've done before you're allowed to rest. Right now. You can just say it. Something in me is tired. Just. Tired. And that deserves your gentleness. Let's affirm this together. You can say the words out loud with me or just listen to my voice. I see. How long I have been holding things together. My tiredness is real and it makes complete sense. I don't have to earn rest. I'm allowed to need it. I can let things be for a moment. Being strong doesn't mean I have to be strong all the time. I am the most important person to consistently deserve my own gentleness. Dear friend, Come back to this any time you need it. To let go of being the strong one, Even if it's just for a moment.

Reviews

Thank you …a wonderful, helpful, compassionate message