Let’s talk about it!
Welcome back to the Akua Projects’ Podcast Magazine’s Substack Chat Room. Pull up a chair, grab your favorite mug of tea or coffee, and get comfortable. Take a second to shake off the mid-week slump, roll your shoulders back, and just breathe.
This is our dedicated space to gather around the metaphorical table, drop our heavy societal armor, and unpack the week together. Wednesday is often the day when our social batteries begin to run low and the masks we wear start to feel the heaviest, which makes it the perfect time to check in with each other.
If you caught this past Sunday’s Mental Health Check-In, you know we started untangling a pretty heavy, deeply universal topic: The Weight of Our Words.
We looked at the powerful Ashanti proverb, “One falsehood spoils a thousand truths,” and shifted the focus inward. Instead of just talking about our public reputations, we talked about the quiet, internal exhaustion of people-pleasing. We explored the invisible, soundproof wall that inauthenticity builds between us and the people we love, making true connection impossible. We also discussed how keeping up a facade—even a well-intentioned one—acts like a battery-draining background app on our minds, quietly keeping our nervous systems on high alert.
Now, we are doing a deeper dive.
As the image for today’s chat says: Bring your thoughts, your experiences, and your open hearts. Healing and unlearning are incredibly difficult to do in a vacuum. When we share our stories, we strip away the shame that thrives in silence. This is a judgment-free zone where we can learn from each other’s journeys, missteps, and victories.
To get the conversation glowing (just like the crystal ball on our table!), jump into the thread below and reply to any of these prompts that speak to your current season:
💬 Today’s Deep Dive Prompts:
* The Heavy Backpack of “Yes”: Where in your life are you currently carrying the heavy backpack of people-pleasing? Are you volunteering for extra tasks at work when you are already burnt out? Are you agreeing to social plans to keep the peace when your spirit is screaming for rest? Let’s talk about why it feels so terrifying to just say “no.”
* The “I’m Fine” Reflex: How often do you use the automatic “I’m fine!” response to mask your true feelings? Do you do this more with your partner, your friends, or your coworkers? We often hide behind this phrase because we don’t want to be a “burden” to others. What do you think would happen if you paused, took a breath, and answered honestly this week?
* The Aftermath of Radical Honesty: Have you recently practiced radical, gentle honesty? Maybe you finally set a difficult boundary with a family member, or you admitted to a friend that you just didn’t have the emotional capacity to hold space for them that day. It is often messy and uncomfortable in the moment. How did you navigate that initial guilt, and how did it feel once the truth was finally out in the open?
* Unlearning the Performance: For many of us, performing and shape-shifting was a survival tactic we learned early in life. What is the hardest part for you about unlearning the urge to perform for others’ approval?
There is absolutely no pressure to have it all figured out, to sound profound, or to have perfectly wrapped-up answers. We are all beautifully, messily human, and we are simply practicing the art of taking off our masks together.
Dive into the chat below, introduce yourself if you’re new to the Substack family, and let’s get into it! 🤎
Note: This is a safe, supportive, and confidential community space. Please practice active listening, be kind, lead with empathy, and remain respectful of everyone’s shared vulnerabilities and lived experiences.
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