Why It’s Okay to Be Weak: Embracing the Ebb and Flow of Life
We’re all trying to be legends 24/7. Striving to be the best version of ourselves. Smashing goals left, right and centre. Being superhumans.
One thing I’ve been reflecting on more recently however is: it’s okay to be weak sometimes.
Maybe it’s even necessary.
The Myth of Constant Strength
We’ve been fed this idea that we need to be “on” all the time.
Social media doesn’t help (part of the reason why I’ve quit *most* forms of social media).
It’s all highlight reels and success stories. Life isn’t a non-stop parade of triumphs and Instagram-worthy moments. It’s complicated, has its ups and downs and sometimes it’s just a bit rubbish.
The Beauty of Weakness
Weakness isn’t a flaw — it’s a feature of life.
The moments when we’re not at our best? They’re opportunities.
Opportunities to rest, to reflect, and to recharge. They are for showing ourselves the same compassion we’d show a friend who’s having a tough time.
Mental Health Isn’t a Straight Line
Our mental health isn’t going to be tip-top every single day, and that’s alright.
My sister is a mental health therapist, and something I’ve been appreciating more from speaking to her and learning about her role, is that it’s okay to struggle.
One thing I think is not spoken about is that in the times when we are struggling, we have to find our own personal method of dealing with this, because proactive steps need to be taken if we are struggling all the time.
My girlfriend tells her boss when she’s struggling at work, and her boss provide compassion and a listening ear.
I don’t find value in talking about my struggles with others. Part of the reason I enjoy writing this blog is it’s an outlet to talk about my struggles, but also what I’ve learnt from them to hopefully help others. I find a lot of value in quiet reflection to assess where I’m at currently, why I’m at this stage, and what I can do moving forward.
Some days we’ll feel like you can conquer the world, and others we’ll struggle to get out of bed. Both are valid. Both are part of the human experience. Recognising this can take a huge weight off our shoulders.
The Ebb and Flow of Life
Life has a natural rhythm, a bit like the tides.
Sometimes we’re riding high on a wave of success and positivity (see my previous post on gaining momentum). Other times, we’re in the trough, feeling overwhelmed.
Ebb and flow is normal. We don’t have to stay on the crest of the wave all the time — we learning to surf, no matter what the conditions.
Taking Weakness for Granted
When moments of weakness come, take them for granted.
Not in a dismissive way, but in a way that acknowledges them as a natural, expected part of life.
Be kind to ourselves. Have a duvet day. Binge-watch the series everyone’s been talking about. Order a takeaway. Do whatever helps us feel comforted and cared for.
But only until we’re feeling better. Weakness isn’t our baseline.
The Strength in Vulnerability
There’s strength in allowing yourself to be vulnerable.
It takes courage to say, “I’m struggling right now,” or “I need help.” That’s not weakness — that’s self-awareness and bravery. Reflect on the times we could have asked for help and what could be learnt from those experiences.
Rest and Recovery
Just like our body needs rest after physical exertion, our mind and spirit need downtime too. Unless we’re Spencer Matthews, we wouldn’t expect to run a marathon every day. Why do we expect our mind to be in peak performance mode all the time?
Rest isn’t lazy — it’s essential.
The Comeback
The thing about allowing ourselves moments of weakness: they make the comeback sweeter.
When we’ve given ourselves time to be “weak,” to rest and recover, we return stronger, more focused, and more appreciative of our capabilities once we start building our momentum again
The next time we’re feeling a bit rubbish, it’s okay. We’re not failing; we’re not weak in any permanent sense. We’re experiencing a natural part of life’s rhythm.
Even superheroes need to hang up their capes sometimes. Why should we be any different?
