Strong Enough to Slow Down

I’ve long believed resilience isn’t about being “tough enough to handle anything.” It’s about being smart enough to navigate challenges with intention.

Recently, I had major back surgery — the kind that literally presses “reset” on your body. Within 24 hours I was back at work: camera on, brain engaged. On paper, it looked like the kind of “unstoppable” resilience that many prize.

But here’s the truth behind that headline moment:

I also gave myself permission to rest. I protected recovery time. I stuck to rehabilitation habits — several daily walks. I listened to my body (most of the time). And I asked for help when I needed it (thank goodness for an amazing husband!) .

That is resilience.

When “Push Through” Becomes Self-Neglect

Far too many high performers — myself included — have worn overwork like a badge of honour. We push through pain, ignore exhaustion, outrun burnout. Then we wonder why careers (and lives) derail.

The numbers confirm how fragile this model actually is:

• According to a 2025 report from Deloitte, over half of workers say that stress and poor mental health — often driven by excessive work demands — remain their top worry.
• Another Deloitte survey shows just how widespread burnout has become: for many people, working has become a chronic stressor, not a source of purpose.
• When mental health suffers, so does performance: Gallup reports that organizations with strong employee wellbeing enjoy significantly higher engagement — which translates into lower risk of depression and anxiety and better overall workplace performance.

What we often call “resilience” under those circumstances isn’t strength — it’s self-neglect disguised as excellence. And, ironically, that hurts both people and organizations in the long run.

Healthy Resilience: The Balanced Alternative

Real — sustainable — resilience isn’t about proving you’re invincible. It’s about being human and strategic.

It’s a practice rooted in:

• Pause with purpose — knowing that rest isn’t failure.
• Progress over perfection — incremental wins matter.
• Wellbeing as nonrenewable capital — once you burn out, recovery can be steep.
• Consistency over intensity — small, steady habits often win over big bursts.
• Asking for support before burnout forces the ask.

In my own recovery, walking daily plays a big role. As modest as it seems, regular walking and movement aren’t just “nice-to-haves”:

• Research shows that even moderate physical activity helps protect against stress-related disorders, bolstering resilience when life presses hard.
• A recent 2025 review of physical-activity–based workplace wellness programs found significant gains in both health and productivity for employees — optimistic evidence that small changes yield real returns.
• And yes — rest matters too. Studies show that structured downtime, “booster breaks,” and prioritizing recovery improve creativity, decision-making, and long-term performance.

This approach doesn’t slow you down. It gives you staying power.

Leaders: Redefine What Strength Means

A lot of us in leadership roles — especially those who’ve been through multiple turnarounds or taken companies through rocky seas — wear “always on” like armor.

But maybe the most powerful leadership move is this: redefine strength as being able to show up over the long-haul — with clarity, health, empathy, and purpose.

That means:

• Saying “not today” without guilt when your body or mind needs a break.
• Protecting rest and recovery with as much reverence as you reserve for deliverables.
• Modeling wellness, not burnout, as a core leadership competency.

Because the people who follow — your teams, your boards, your clients — don’t want leaders who run on fumes. They need leaders who run on values. Who show up grounded, human, and whole.

The Takeaway: Resilience Is an Act of Wisdom

I didn’t rush back after surgery just to prove I could. I did it because I love what I do, and I thrive in momentum. But I didn’t abandon care, recovery, or balance.

I rested. I slowed down. I honoured recovery — and I kept moving, slowly but surely.

That’s not compromise. It’s strength.

Because strength isn’t measured by how hard you push. It’s shown in how wisely you recover.