The Backpack We Didn’t Know We Were Carrying
Have you ever reached the end of a long day and thought, “Why am I so exhausted?” Not just physically—but emotionally drained, mentally foggy, spiritually tapped out.
Sometimes it’s not the to-do list that’s worn us down. It’s the invisible backpack we’ve been lugging around.
Each one of us carries a metaphorical backpack—stuffed with our past experiences, beliefs, fears, generational trauma, roles we didn’t ask for, and expectations that feel more like obligations.
Maybe yours is filled with...
The pressure to “keep it together” no matter what.
The guilt that comes from saying “no,” even when your soul is screaming “please.”
Memories that still sneak up in the quiet moments and make your chest ache.
Some of us inherited this backpack. It was handed down, packed with unspoken grief, survival stories, and coping mechanisms that don’t fit us anymore.
The weight gets heavier when we don’t stop to unpack it.
So what does it look like to slowly unzip that bag?
It looks like:
Saying no and not explaining yourself.
Sitting with a trusted friend or therapist and saying, “I don’t know why this still hurts, but it does.”
Naming what you’ve carried that was never yours to hold.
Healing isn’t always about “fixing” yourself. Sometimes it’s about realizing you were never broken—just burdened. And the beautiful thing? You get to choose what stays in that backpack and what gets left behind.
Today, take a deep breath. Set your bag down, even if just for a moment. You deserve to rest. You deserve to walk lighter.
You are not what you carry. You are the one carrying it—and that means you have power.
Book Recommendations
Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A guide to Reclaiming Yourself By Nedra Glover Tawwab
Let Them By Mel Robbins
8 Rules of Love: How to Find It, Keep It, and Let It Go by Jay Shetty
✨ If you’re ready to start your healing journey, I’d love to support you. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation with Luminescent Mind Counseling & Consultation Services. Healing is possible, and you don’t have to do it alone. Click here to book your session today!
