The Myth of Being "On" All the Time
There’s an unspoken pressure baked into the mindset of the driven. You know it. I know it. That belief that you’ve got to be “on” all the time. High-energy. Dialed in. Fully engaged. Producing. Solving. Leading. Creating.
We turn ourselves into machines and wonder why we break down.
I lived like that for a long time. And I was praised for it. People loved how productive I was, how “on” I always seemed. But inside, I was exhausted. Spiritually and emotionally drained. My body was whispering “slow down,” and I kept pushing the gas. Eventually, it caught up with me.
Here’s the truth: always being “on” is not a strength. It’s a survival strategy. It’s a mask. One that keeps us from feeling the deeper emotions we’re trying to avoid. It’s how we run from our past, our fears, and even our True Selves.
The real courage isn’t in doing more. It’s in knowing when to stop.
Stillness is not laziness. Silence is not a waste of time. Choosing to pause is not weakness. In fact, it takes tremendous strength to turn down the noise, to unplug, and to face the parts of yourself you’ve been too busy to meet.
You’ll be shocked at what shows up when you allow yourself to be off. Creative breakthroughs. Emotional clarity. The voice of your True Self. You begin to feel again. You become more human, more grounded, and more aligned.
Being “off” is a skill. It’s where you process, recharge, and tap into your highest guidance. I’m not saying to disappear for weeks. I’m saying to create small moments, daily, where you let go of the need to perform.
Start with five minutes. Just five. Sit in silence. Let yourself be bored. Let the emotions come. Watch what happens.
Because the version of you who’s always “on” might get a lot done. But the version of you who knows when to stop? That’s the one who truly shines.