The Weight You Weren’t Meant to Carry

Some burdens are meant for you. Some are not.

But if you’re anything like me, you’ve spent years carrying all of them—the expectations, the guilt, the pressure, the responsibility for things that were never yours to hold.

Men, especially, have been taught that we’re supposed to handle it all.

????Be strong.

????Don’t complain.

????Carry the weight.

And for a while, we do.

Until the weight starts crushing us.

What Are You Carrying That’s Not Yours?

We don’t always realize it, but most of the weight we struggle under isn’t even ours to bear.

• The pain of your past—things done to you, words spoken over you, wounds you never asked for.
• The expectations of others—trying to be the perfect son, husband, father, leader, man.
• The guilt of mistakes—the things you did or didn’t do, the regrets that won’t let go.
• The responsibility for others’ emotions—keeping the peace, fixing everything, making sure no one else is uncomfortable.

You’ve convinced yourself that you have to carry it. That dropping even one of these burdens means you’ve failed.

But here’s the truth...

Some weights were never meant for you.

The Difference Between Strength and Self-Destruction

I used to think being strong meant carrying it all—never letting anyone see the struggle.

I wore my pain like armor, thinking it made me untouchable.

It didn’t.

It made me isolated. Angry. Exhausted.

And...

One day, it almost ended me.

Because there’s a fine line between strength and self-destruction.

????Strength is knowing when to fight.

??Self-destruction is refusing to rest.

????Strength is facing hard things head-on.

??Self-destruction is thinking you have to do it alone.

????Strength is setting boundaries—knowing when enough is enough.

??Self-destruction is saying “yes” to everything and everyone, even when it’s killing you.

????Strength is admitting when you need help.

??Self-destruction is suffering in silence because you think asking for help makes you weak.

I had it all backward.

I thought carrying everything made me strong.

But the real strength—the kind that doesn’t break you—is knowing what to let go of.

Because if you refuse to put the weight down, one day, it will put you down.

So...

It’s Time to Put It Down

I need to ask you:

What are you carrying that’s not yours?

Because THAT weight you’ve been dragging behind you? It’s breaking you.

And the longer you hold onto it, the heavier it becomes.

Put it down.

• The shame? Drop it.
• The expectations? Release them.
• The belief that you have to do this alone? Let it go.

You were never meant to live like this.

My Perspective...

I carried too much for too long. It almost killed me. I won’t do it again.

And...

I don’t want you to, either.

So here’s my challenge:

1?? Drop a comment below. What’s one burden you need to release? (No shame, just real talk.)

2?? Share this with someone who needs the reminder that they don’t have to carry it all.

3?? Message me directly. If you’re drowning under the weight, let’s talk. I’ve been there. I know the way out.

You weren’t meant to carry it all. So stop trying.

Let it go.

——

Hi! I'm Steven.

My mission is to Inspire belief, build relationships, and better the world...

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