As someone who suffers from anxiety, the pressure to be something more than what I already am is actually quite overwhelming. Even on a subconscious level, inspirational quotes telling me to “chase my dreams”, make me feel guilty for being content with the standard of living I’ve chosen for myself and my family.

I’ve recently decided to slow right down work wise and become more of a stay at home mum, and the guilt and pressure surrounding that decision has affected me in ways I didn’t quite expect.

Did I bring that guilt and pressure on myself? Perhaps. That’s the nature of the anxiety beast.

Although it makes sense for our situation to stay home and take care of my children, I feel as though I am letting some imaginary team down by “not having it all”. As though the God’s of the inspirational quotes are frowning down upon me for infringing on some unspoken feminist rule. That I shouldn’t be content with “just” staying home and taking care of my family. Rather, I should be out there striving for more, being courageous and going confidently in the direction of my dreams.

Holy shitake mushrooms. Slow it down there with the pressure cooker.

My question is, when did we all become such over achievers and when did ample become such a dirty word?

Most people I know suffer from some sort of depression or anxiety disorder. At times I wonder whether we bring this on ourselves in the quest to comply with inspirational quotes and expectations that seem to be continuously giving us the guilt trip. Making us feel as though we aren’t enough.

These memes pressure us into believing we aren’t adequate. We need to accomplish more. We have failed life up until this point and we should start making changes NOW. QUICKLY!! As ships are safe in the harbour, but that’s not what ships were made for.

I’ve got news for you. The Titanic sunk. Perhaps because it took on more than it was capable of at that point in time.

It doesn’t necessarily matter in what field of your life these memes suggest you’re failing in either. The messages are pretty much categorised:

You need to lose weight.

You need to find a better job.

You need to find a soul mate.

You need to be happier.

You need to be a better parent, as they are only little for so long.

Well I’m not mentally prepared to dedicated myself to the gym at this point in time, I did have a “better” job but the stress flared up a chronic illness, my husband works away and my soul mate is pizza right now. I’ll be happier when my child sleeps through a whole night, and sometimes children are naughty and need to be punished so they don’t grow up to be horrible adults with no boundaries.

That doesn’t make me fat, lazy, lonely, angry, or a bad parent. It make me human.

A human who is doing the best she can with what she’s been given. A human who is blooming where she is planted.

What we need are inspirational quotes that encourage us, not pressure us into feeling inadequate.

By listening to what our souls need rather than what we think is expected of us, we may just make more of a positive impact in our lives than we would if we were simply going through the motions at the detriment of our own mental health.

Life is hard, and everyone is fighting a battle no one knows about. Rather than take on more than you can chew in a desperate bid to BE MORE, it may be wiser to slow down and take care of YOU right now.

Think of yourself as an investment, you’re in it for the long haul. You don’t need to be a superhero all the time. You can take your cape off. It’s OK. Put on some jeggings and relax.

It’s OK to be content with where you are in your life right now. Things change, and in a month, a year, or 10 years from now you may find yourself somewhere else. Give yourself permission to live in the moment without the anxiety or pressure of “should be”.

All you “should be” doing right now, is being true to yourself, your circumstances, and what your soul is telling you it needs. When the timing is right, you can move forward so that you don’t “regret the chances you didn’t take” and if not, that’s OK too.

“Sometimes a mirror’s a miracle
Sometimes it’s nothing at all
In this reflection even angels fall
You could fly anytime
Even though you own your own comet

Ordinary people, it’s okay
You don’t have to wear those wings
They’re stupid things”

Ordinary people, it’s okay, you don’t have to wear those wings. They’re stupid things.

Have you ever felt the pressure to be “more” ?