About this quote

Fitting into society often feels like an invisible, full-time job for those carrying silent burdens. You look at a coworker who seems average, but you have no idea what it cost them just to get out of bed and show up today. Masking anxiety, chronic pain, or grief takes a massive toll that leaves no physical bruises. Stop assuming that everyone starts the day with the same baseline of energy. Offer people a little more space to breathe, because their quiet survival is harder than you think.

When to use it

• When your teammate with severe anxiety manages to give a standard status update during the morning meeting. You say to yourself, 'He looked calm, but I know he had to fight a panic attack just to sit in that chair.'
• At a family reunion, your cousin with fibromyalgia quietly slips away to rest after just one hour of socializing. You tell your complaining aunt, 'She spent her entire week's energy budget just to show up and say hello to us.'
• Supporting a friend who lost a parent last month as they barely pass a college midterm exam. You tell them, 'Forget the grade; the fact that you sat down and finished that paper is a victory today.'