It's easy to equate strength with stoicism.

For example, who comes to mind when you picture a "strong" leader?

Today, we are conditioned to think of individuals who seem unshakeable, rarely show vulnerability, and lead with a calm, unflinching demeanor.

These are the traditional images of strength, but I want to argue that strength is far more nuanced than that.

True strength isn’t about refusing to feel pain—it’s about moving forward even when we feel it.

Strength is not the absence of emotion but instead, the ability to acknowledge it, face it, and still push ahead. It’s about recognizing when something is hard and choosing above all else to keep going despite that difficulty.

True resilience lies in the willingness to experience discomfort and still remain committed to the path ahead.

The truth is being uncomfortable, feeling upset, discouraged, or hurt is part of life.

No one is immune to these emotions—not even the leaders we look up to. So why in the world do we expect our leaders, our loved ones, or ourselves to be? We are all humans. This is humanity.

Behind every strong armor of the exterior is a person who also grapples with moments of doubt, frustration, and sadness. It's easy to forget that everyone, regardless of their role or position, is navigating their own emotional challenges. Yet, we need to remember. And we need empathy.

It’s truly what makes us human—our capacity to feel deeply, yet continue striving for progress.

I fully recognize that while we can’t control when these emotions arise, we can control how we respond to them. And that is truly important.

The key lies in how we manage our emotions and decide what our next steps will be.

While I can’t speak for our world leaders or those in the public eye, let’s talk up us and how we chose to handle our simple civility.

Will we choose to tap into our support system and lean on the resources around us to help us move forward? Will we allow ourselves to be vulnerable enough to ask for help, or will we let our feelings hold us back for longer than necessary?

The choice is always ours. We can choose to be proactive and seek the help we need, or we can let our fear and doubt keep us from moving ahead. I will be honest. I needed help. Extreme help in my early 20’s and had to ask of it of my family. There were generational barriers that were not understood when I asked for therapy and medication to help me through. Please know, I know these situations can sometimes not be easy. But, at the end of the day, you have to do what is right and best for you, not your family. And in the end, they will love you and support you or they don’t deserve you.

Recognizing these emotions are part of the journey. We have to see them not as obstacles but as signals that we are on the verge of growth and change.

Moving forward while in pain isn’t easy, but nothing in life worth having is. The greatest achievements often come from pushing through the toughest moments. And when we come out the other side, not only do we grow stronger, but we also learn more about who we are and what we are capable of.

It’s in these moments of challenge that we discover our true strength—not in how well we can hide our pain, but in how we move forward despite it.

And don’t be afraid to lean on the people who believe in you and lift you when the weight of the journey feels heavy. They remind you of your strength and keep you moving forward. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it.

Together, we are always stronger.