Why Resilience Shouldn't Be Our Only Choice

The Historical Context

This demand for relentless endurance didn’t emerge from nowhere. It’s the direct consequence of colonialism where stolen land, extracted resources, and forced labor were met with the expectation that the colonized would quietly "adapt" and "persevere."

Our ancestors survived, yes, but their survival was weaponized against us: If they could endure, why can’t you? The expectation of endless resilience ignores the truth that their endurance wasn’t strength, but necessity under violence.

The Physical and Emotional Toll

The cost of this narrative lives in our bodies. It manifests as chronic pain, anxiety, and burnout. We’ve been taught to blame ourselves for these symptoms to meditate more, sleep better, and "self-care" our way out of systemic harm. Yet, fatigue isn’t failure; it’s the logical result of a system built to drain us.

Understanding the Impact on Our Lives

Living in a society that demands constant resilience takes a toll on our mental and physical health. We show up each day, pushing through pain and anxiety, often at the expense of our well-being. It creates a cycle that is hard to break.

Moreover, this cycle is compounded by societal expectations, which make us feel guilty for needing rest. We internalize these feelings, mistakenly believing that taking a break is a sign of weakness. In truth, rest is a necessary component of a sustainable life.

Rethinking Resilience

True resilience isn’t nonstop labor; it breathes. It’s the natural rhythm between effort and ease, between rising up and lying down, between roaring and resting. But let’s be clear: rest alone isn’t enough. Sustainable resilience requires systemic change.

Until then, there is profound power in refusing to internalize the blame for struggles that were never ours to carry. Healing begins when we redirect our anger outward—not at ourselves for "failing," but at the systems designed to make us collapse.

Rejecting Guilt and Embracing Rest

To rest without guilt is to reject the machinery that profits from our exhaustion. It’s a declaration: I am not a resource to be mined. When you finally allow yourself to fall apart, remember you’re not giving up. You’re joining a long lineage of resisters who understood that stillness, too, is defiance.

A Call to Action

So lie down. Breathe. And rest like your ancestors are cheering you on. Allow yourself to embrace rest as a tool for healing and empowerment. Explore ways to nourish your mind and body take walks in nature, engage in creative pursuits, or spend time with loved ones.

The journey doesn’t end with rest; it begins there. Acknowledge your struggles, but don’t let them define you. Fight for a society that values well-being over productivity.

fresh leaves