Pressure is a privilege

Oh, we’re calling Substack “articles” now instead of “posts”. How fancy! - I needed to get that thought out of the way, after I saw the new Substack updates.

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I’ll be honest: I heard “pressure is a privilege” first from Taylor Swift, while watching her Eras Tour documentary. She was also referring to the privilege that her feet would hurt so much after her shows. She called it a privilege. I understood it as having the privilege to be able to experience such a unique moment despite the pain.

However, I had a friend make a post with the theme “pressure is a privilege”…

and that’s when I felt it in my bones…

Pressure is a privilege. Not everyone gets pushed around by Life like I do (and I don’t get pushed around by Life like they do, too). Life has been bullying me over the last few years. Life has crushed me, made me dust myself off and stressed me out to make a new foundation for my Life. The foundation that’ll hold everything I’ve dreamed of. This pressure in my Life guides me. She holds me. She knows me better than my damn self. She has me laughing at the old me, while thinking about how far I’ve come from “knowing” what I wanted to deeply knowing what I wanted. There’s a difference.

Being pressed to be the better version of you is a privilege. It makes you grow. It makes you want more out of Life, knowing that you’ll get it someday. It makes you want your “someday”.

A few weeks ago, I wrote about how I have a graduate degree in pressure because working with my horse one morning reminded me of that. Asking her to lift her head with a soft rein - it felt like I stepped into my soul who knows how to work with pressure. How to know when there is pressure. How to apply pressure. How to apply the correct amount of pressure. When to increase pressure. When to release pressure.

Pressure and release.

That’s like the mantra of training horses. We humans learn how to apply pressure and when to release it from horses. You could say that we teach it to horses, but after working with horses for over 10 years now, I know that it’s the horses that are teaching us this. They’re teaching us about our nervous systems. They tell us how important emotional regulation is, they pressure us into being leaders, they help us learn what is needed to take care of the whole body, and so much more.

Without understanding pressure and release, without having the privilege of having pressure in my life, I would never ever ever be able to get to where I am.

I love situations that make my grow. I love the pressure. I love the limelight that comes with it. I am addicted to the wisdom that comes with working with pressure. Addicted. I love sharing the stories that come from dealing with pressure so others can deal with their pressure with more ease.

My friend also reminded me that “if you think that you bit off more than you can chew, you will chew it”. End of story. You will digest it. You still metabolize it. Then, you will crave more.

This is how we become a forever student of ourselves.

Pressure.

Release.

Pressure.

Release.

Pressure to learn.

Pressure to grow.

Pressure to see the other side of the argument.

Pressure to communicate in an even softer way.

Pressure to lead a group of souls.

Pressure to travel further than you ever have before.

Then, pressure to have the strength to return home, where you’re needed.

Release happens in the moment that the pressure is lightened. That’s when the energy funnels in. That’s when the lessons are learned and the world makes sense for a short while.

Pressure. I can’t live without it. It’s an honour and privileged to be pressured in this Life.

I’ve learned to be still in some moments, to assess the pressure being applied and to react to it or redirect it if needed. It’s a skill. Truly.

The quiet of my breath, my mind aware, my body focused… these moments are where I do my best learning, the horses have shown me.

So, bring on the pressure. I’m ready to continue growing.

Thanks for Being here,

D