When Strength No Longer Means Surviving
- Terese Sacramento
- Jan 27
- 2 min read
For a long time, the word strong felt heavy in my body. It carried the weight of holding it all together.Of being the one who copes.Of pushing through, even when tired.Of doing it alone.
So when I used to speak about women being “tired of being strong,” it came from a very real place — a nervous system that had learned to associate strength with survival.
But something has shifted.
Quietly. Gently. Without force.
This year, the word STRENGHT chose me — and for the first time, my body didn’t resist.
A different kind of strength
This strength feels like:
a regulated nervous system
a calm, focused mind
clear intuition
the ability to rest and move forward
knowing when to ask for support
Strength is no longer something I push myself into.It’s something that grows when the mind feels safe.
This is what I mean by keeping the mind fit — not through pressure, but through presence.
Healing happens when the body agrees
What surprised me the most wasn’t choosing strength as my word for the year —it was realizing that the old trigger was gone.
No tightening.No bracing.No inner “I can’t do this again.”
That’s how you know inner work has integrated.Not because you’ve understood it intellectually — but because your nervous system responds differently.
A fit mind isn’t a busy one.It’s a regulated one.
Strength includes connection
Another unexpected gift of this season is how much I’ve begun to enjoy working with others.
The part of me that believed independence meant doing everything alone is softening.And in its place, something more expansive is growing.
Mental strength isn’t isolation.It’s discernment.Knowing when to stand alone — and when to lean in.
This too is part of keeping the mind fit.
This is the strength I stand for now
Strength that is grounded.Strength that is regulated.Strength that doesn’t abandon the body to meet expectations.
The kind of strength that allows you to feel peaceful and powerful.
If your mind and body have been asking for something truer, softer, and more aligned — listen.
Sometimes the strongest thing you can dois let strength mean something new.
If this resonated with you, feel free to leave a heart or a comment below. I’d love to know what strength means to you right now.
With Love & Good Energy,
Terese
She Elevate
Keep Your Mind Fit
Helping and Guiding Women Away From Burnout
Comments