I remember the day Sarah walked into our wellness class, her shoulders slumped and her eyes heavy with exhaustion. Sarah was always the cheerful one—the one who brought smiles and positive energy everywhere she went. But that day was different. She didn’t need to say a word; we all knew something was wrong.
After class, she sat with me in silence for a while, fidgeting with her phone before finally speaking. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I just… feel empty.”
I could see the frustration in her eyes. The pressure to keep it together was written all over her face, but behind it, there was something deeper—a cry for help, a feeling many of us experience but rarely talk about.
“I just need to be okay,” she said, her voice breaking.
And there it was: the belief so many of us have—that we always need to be okay.
But here’s the truth I told Sarah that day, a truth we often forget: **It’s okay not to be okay.**
The Pressure to Be Perfect
We live in a world where everyone’s life looks perfect online. Social media is full of happy faces, exciting travels, and picture-perfect moments. It’s easy to believe that everyone has it all together, and if you’re struggling, you must be doing something wrong.
But what we don’t see are the tough moments-the tears, the anxiety, the sleepless nights. No one is perfect, and no one has it together all the time. Yet, we constantly pressure ourselves to feel okay, to act like everything is fine when, inside, it feels like a storm.
Sarah’s story is a reminder of how human we all are. No matter how much we try to smile through the pain, our emotions are a part of us. And sometimes, they demand to be felt.
The Power of Accepting Our Emotions
As Sarah and I talked that day, I asked her to try something she hadn’t done in a long time – accept how she felt without judgment.
“I feel lost,” she whispered. And with that admission came a flood of emotions—sadness, frustration, confusion. But for the first time, Sarah allowed herself to **just feel** without trying to fix anything.
And that’s the magic. The moment we accept our emotions, we begin to heal. It doesn’t mean the sadness goes away instantly, but by acknowledging it, we give ourselves permission to be human.
Healing Through Connection
Over the next few weeks, Sarah started sharing her journey with close friends and family. At first, she feared they would think less of her, but something surprising happened—many opened up about their own struggles. She realized she wasn’t alone.
In our darkest moments, it’s easy to feel isolated, but the truth is, we are all carrying something. When we open up, we find support, connection, and understanding. That’s where healing begins—not in pretending everything is fine but in sharing our truth with others.
It’s Okay Not to Be Okay
If you’re feeling like Sarah did that day—overwhelmed, lost, or simply not yourself—know that you don’t need to be okay right now. Life has its ups and downs, and every emotion you feel is valid.
Take a deep breath. Share your feelings with someone you trust. Most importantly, give yourself permission to feel whatever you’re feeling.
Because in the end, it’s okay not to be okay.
And that’s where true healing begins.