👋🏾 Hey, I'm Rashida…overthinker, feeler, yoga & mindfulness teacher, and recovering strong friend. I'm here because I know what it's like to carry the world on your shoulders and secretly crave permission to put it down. Each week, I share reflections, personal stories, and gentle practices to help you redefine what strength means, reclaim your rest, and finally let yourself be held.

Dear Strong Friend,

This one is for the one who's been quiet for too long.

You don’t look like you’re carrying much.

But I know you are.

Because I’ve been there, too.

You move through the world with grace.

You hold space for others without flinching.

You wear the mask of composure like a second skin.

And still…your silence is full.

Full of swallowed truths.

Full of sighs tucked into your chest.

Full of the "I'm fine" that covers a storm no one sees.

I created the H.E.L.D. Method to help us move through this very thing: the sacred process of laying down the performance of strength and finally letting ourselves feel.

We began last week with Honor, naming the weight.

This week, we step into Express: the courageous act of giving voice to what we’ve held inside.

Not because you owe anyone an explanation.

But because unspoken truth becomes tension.

Because you owe yourself a release.

And your body remembers what your mouth never got to say.

What You’ve Been Holding Isn’t Just Emotional…It’s Physical

The tension in your jaw when someone asks if you’re okay.

The pressure in your chest when you bite your tongue to keep the peace.

The snapping at something small, then wondering, Where did that come from?

The shutdown. The silence. The ache in your shoulders that won’t go away.

You may not have the words.

You may not even feel ready to speak them.

But your body already knows.

And it’s been waiting for you to listen.

A Mini Practice: Let’s Try Something Together

If it feels okay, pause what you’re doing.

Find a quiet spot.

Let this be your moment.

* Soften your shoulders.

* Let your gaze drop or your eyes close.

* Place one hand on your heart, the other on your belly.

Breathe in…slowly.

Hold.

Now exhale with sound. Maybe a sigh.

Again.

And as you exhale, imagine this:

You’re releasing one truth.

One sentence.

One piece of yourself that’s been living quietly inside.

It could be a no you didn’t say.

A need you minimized.

A boundary you betrayed.

Let it rise like a phoenix.

Let it move through the breath.

Let your body feel what your words couldn’t carry alone.

Whisper this if it feels safe:

“I’m allowed to say what I’ve been holding.”

Even if it’s shaky.

Even if it’s quiet.

Even if no one else hears it but you.

You’ve taken the first step.

And that matters.

Friend, you are not broken. You are full.

Of truth.

Of grief.

Of rage.

Of longing.

And none of it makes you weak.

It makes you real.

You don’t have to carry it alone.

You never did.

This week, may you give voice to what’s been silent.

Not to fix it.

Not to perform it.

Just to let it breathe.

Because your body has been holding so much.

And today?

You gave her the mic.

Your Integration Prompt:

What truth have I been holding in?

Write it. Record it. Whisper it.

Let it be messy. Let it be yours.

And comment below if you feel called. I’d love to know.

Next week on the podcast, we’ll explore the next phase in the H.E.L.D. Method…Lean.

It’s all about learning to ask and receive support without guilt.

Because you deserve care that doesn’t require performance.

Until then…

Honor what you feel.

Express what needs to be said.

And remember…you don’t have to hold it in, to be held.

xo,

Rashida

aka your strong friend who has spent many years holding in what she needs to let out (until now)

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