Redefining Strength

-





Why must my scars be the proof of my resilience?
Why must I bleed just to be seen as unbreakable?

I am tired of strength being measured in bruises,
in silence, in how much hell I can endure without collapsing.

Strength is not swallowing pain until it drowns me.
Strength is spitting it out, naming it,
and refusing to carry what was never mine.

You call me strong because I “survived you.”
But survival is not the badge you think it is.
It is evidence of war, a war I never signed up for.

My strength is not in patching wounds you created.
It is in refusing to let you cut me again.

Strength is not carrying dysfunction on my back like a twisted inheritance.
It is breaking generational chains so my daughter will never confuse pain with love, and my son will never call control protection.

Strength is not forgiveness without accountability.
It is boundaries without apology.
It is walking away without looking back.

You thought I stayed because I was tenacious.
No, I stayed because I was conditioned.
Conditioned to believe love equals suffering,
conditioned to believe silence equals peace,
conditioned to think my worth equals endurance.

But here’s the truth:
Strength is not the storm I survive.
It is the life I build after the rain.

Strength is waking up and choosing softness, choosing joy, and choosing me.

Strength is saying:
“I am no longer your reflection of pain.
I am my own mirror of power.”

So hear me clearly, my strength is not for your measurement.
Not for your pride, your excuse, or your legacy.

Strength belongs to me.
Strength is mine to define.
Strength says I am free.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Psychologically Unsafe Living Environments

-
Image
  "My living environment began to get highly toxic and uncomfortable to the point where I cried a lot, was angry with myself, and was in a state of depression." -Brittany D. Jackson   I felt this! I could relate to the author as she detailed how hard it was for her to live in one toxic environment after the other. These environments take a toll on us mentally and emotionally, making it difficult to trust others. Suppose you have ever felt extreme anxiety, low self-esteem, worthlessness, or feeling drained being around certain people more than likely. In that case, you are living in or have lived in an unsafe environment. Most of us have, at some point, experienced these living conditions at an early age in our childhood homes.   I grew up in psychologically unsafe living conditions. There was access to designer things and everything else to look good on the outside, but the internal structure was in shambles. I could not wait to get out on my own; there was no reason for ...
Read more

Healing from the Subtle Wounds: A Journey Back to Self

-
Image
  As life continues to unfold, I find myself reflecting deeply on the last five years, a period where, unknowingly, I was entangled in the web of toxic relationships designed to break me. Looking back, one thing becomes clear: when your light shines even a little too brightly, those who have dimmed their own will often work overtime to dim yours too. The goal of the toxic person is simple: bring you down to their level. And sadly, much of what they despise in you is often beauty, strength, and resilience you haven't even fully recognized in yourself yet. I've come to hate that sometimes it takes great pain for us to realize who we are. It's in the betrayal, the loneliness, the subtle wounds that never quite scar over, that's where identity is forced to be reclaimed. Growing up, my mother used backhanded tactics to chip away at my self-esteem. I vividly remember how she would gush over my cousins: "Oh, you're so beautiful," she'd say, over and over, i...
Read more

How to Identify Narcissistic Friendships

-
Image
Friendships should be a safe space where you feel supported, uplifted, and celebrated. But not all friendships are built on genuine connections. Some people enter your life not to pour into you but to drain you. They want to dim your light, chip away at your confidence, and keep you beneath them. These are narcissistic friendships ; if you’ve ever felt like a “friend” was more of an opponent, you may have experienced one firsthand. At first, their behavior may seem subtle—a backhanded compliment here, an odd reaction to your success there. But over time, the pattern becomes clear. Signs of a Narcissistic Friendship 1. They Have a Superiority Complex No matter what you accomplish, they find a way to make themselves seem better . They constantly try to outshine you , downplay your wins, and make sure you never feel like you’re on their level. They might say things like: “Oh, that’s cute for you, but I’m aiming higher.” “I mean, anyone could have done that.” “I’ve been doing that for year...
Read more