Quiet Courage

This week has reminded me how many people are quietly struggling not because they are weak, but because they don’t know how to ask for help. Two friends reached out to me: one shared about relationship and work struggles that had been weighing her down, and the other asked for prayers for a sick relative. Both moments touched me deeply, because opening up like that takes courage.

We live in a world that praises strength, but often misunderstands it. We are told to “be strong,” “keep going,” or “just stop thinking about it.” Yet sometimes, those words only deepen the silence inside us. The truth is, strength isn’t always in holding it together sometimes, it’s in saying I need help.

I’ve seen how unspoken pain can turn into physical illness, unexplained fatigue, or emotional burnout. And when people finally speak, they are often told “it will be fine.” But words alone are not tools. Healing needs more than reassurance; it needs support, listening, and practical coping mechanisms whether that’s journaling, prayer, meditation, or simply a safe conversation.

It reminds me of a story from Inner Engineering by Sadhguru, where a man was told to stop thinking about monkeys and instantly, that became all he could think about. The more he tried to stop, the stronger the thought became. It’s the same with our struggles: when someone tells us “don’t think about it,” it doesn’t quiet the mind; it traps us deeper inside it. Real peace comes not from suppressing our pain but from gently acknowledging it and finding ways to work through it.

So this week, I’m celebrating the courage of everyone who has dared to ask for help and those who have been present enough to listen. It takes bravery to be vulnerable, and compassion to respond.

Let’s normalize reaching out before things become unbearable. Let’s be intentional about checking in on friends who “seem fine.” And when we need help ourselves, let’s remember that asking doesn’t make us weak it makes us human.

I’m curious how do you ask for help when you’re struggling? Or what helps you cope when words aren’t enough?