We usually celebrate a woman’s physical prowess, but how often does anyone talk about the invisible marathons she runs every day?
Finding one’s footing in a society that constantly demands more, while juggling a profession, family, and self-care, can be an overwhelming task. It’s time we honour women for their remarkable mental endurance, which is so often overlooked.
The world may be agog over men’s record-breaking physical hard work, but women are quietly setting new standards in mental and emotional arenas. We are the ones who are responsible for keeping our own emotions in check while also making room for the needs of others.
Within our social circles, we serve as informal therapists, our families’ default go-to emotional counsellors, and crisis coordinators during emergencies.
This isn’t a case of dispersed attention; rather, it’s a skill that calls for extraordinary mental agility and endurance: it’s advanced multitasking. Despite this, many avoid calling it a superpower since they consider it “natural”.
Simply mention that you need a break from being everyone’s emotional GPS or that you’re feeling tired, and you’re likely to be met with puzzled looks. It’s as if your emotional labour is considered less demanding than physical work, when in truth, it’s often far more exhausting.
The Training Nobody Talks About
There’s no secret playbook that allows women to seamlessly transition from being a hard-charging professional to a nurturing mother.
We learnt to “be nice” and “take care of others” when we were tiny girls, and since then, our social conditioning has instilled this trait of perseverance.
Slowly but surely, women learn to take charge of their lives, anticipate needs, defuse volatile situations, and support others no matter what.
Women’s psychological resilience, worthy of the Navy SEALs, is built by staying calm even when labelled “emotional” and smiling through microaggressions and the demands of daily life. It’s being able to consistently hold on to ourselves while still making room for other people.
Regardless of one’s upbringing, culture, or situation, mental endurance is a common thread among women. So, let’s shift the narrative from physical strength to mental endurance.
Let’s recognise women who are resilient in spirit. Their mental toughness is more than simply a personal characteristic; it’s a potent catalyst for progress that benefits families, communities, and companies. It’s an understated strength that merits a standing ovation from us.
