What Are You Tolerating?
Why “pushing through” feels responsible—but actually robs you of aliveness.
Tolerating is sneaky.
On the surface, it looks like being “responsible” or “keeping things running.” But often, it’s fueled by the 3Ps: proving, pleasing, or perfectionism.
The problem?
What you tolerate quietly drains you. It leaves you carrying pressure that doesn’t belong to you, while the things that do matter—your energy, your joy, your Soul-Yes desires—get pushed to the back burner.
For me, it showed up in my bra drawer.
At first, I thought I had to just tolerate the discomfort of underwire—the poking, the pinching, the constant vice-grip on my ribs. After all, underwire was “necessary” if you wanted to keep the girls lifted, right?
But here’s the truth: nothing lifts like underwire… and I’ve decided my comfort matters more than appearances. Maybe that’s a post-menopause shift.
Maybe it’s simply letting go of my old “fashion over function” approach. Either way,
I’m no longer willing to endure something that undermines my aliveness.
The Small Stuff (That Isn’t So Small)
And bras are just one example.
Messy desks. Piles of clutter. Chargers that never seem to be in the room you need them.
None of these are catastrophic. But tolerating them reinforces the old pattern: I can handle it. I’ll push through.
And yes, of course you can (you’ve proved that). But what about prioritizing your aliveness instead of your endurance?
Because the truth is—tolerating doesn’t just show up in the small stuff.
It creeps into bigger things, too.
Friendships that feel one-sided.
Roles where you’re always the responsible one.
A job that looks good on paper but drains your spirit.
Defining yourself by appearances, productivity, or approval instead of your truth.
These are the deeper costs of tolerating: not just a cluttered desk, but a cluttered spirit.
In fact, this is one of the subtle ways burnout hides inside success, not as collapse, but as a slow drain on capacity.
Where Are You Choosing Aliveness Over Endurance?
Aliveness is pleasure. Joy. Beauty. Ease.
Most of us were raised with the admonitions: Don’t be a whiner. Stop complaining. But as adults, we get to choose something different: self-honoring.
Letting ourselves want what we want without overruling it.
Do you need to take a break from your desk?
Do you need a nap, a hearty bowl of soup, a beautiful view, a belly laugh with a friend, or a drive with the music cranked up?
Do you need to be the taker, not just the giver? Or scout a more-fulfilling role?
Where are you tolerating less than your aliveness big or small? And what small shift could you make right now, toward honoring yourself?
Because when you stop overriding, something profound opens up: intuition, knowing, wisdom.
But first, you have to be a safe and honoring place for yourself.
Let’s practice.
Energy Reboot (60 seconds or less)
Orient + Feel for “Yes”
Look around. Gently let your eyes scan the space you’re in. Notice colors, shapes, or something pleasant or neutral to land your attention on. (This cues your body: I’m safe here, now.)
Find neutral or good. Bring awareness to one part of your body that feels comfortable, neutral, or simply less tense—maybe your feet on the ground, your hands in your lap, or your back against a chair.
Savor it. Stay with that sensation for three full breaths. Notice warmth or softening—even if it’s subtle.
3 Prompts to Help You Shift, Align, and Act in real time
Exclusive to weekly readers, these prompts are designed for my personal Meredith AI Coach—trained in the Nothing to Prove framework to guide you into insight and inspired action, right when you need it.
Open the AI Coach here 👇
https://link.pauseboxco.com/Meredith-AI
🔥 Prompt 1:
“I think I’ve been tolerating more than I realize. Can you help me name where it’s costing me the most energy?”
🔥 Prompt 2:
“Can you guide me in exploring why I keep pushing through instead of honoring what I truly need?”
🔥 Prompt 3:
“Can you help me practice what a Soul-Yes feels like in my body, so I know the difference between tolerating and choosing?”
Resource of the Week
🧘🏽♀️ The Soul-Yes Whisper (Insight Timer Meditation)
This guided practice helps you tune into the quiet inner voice that knows what’s true for you. A Soul-Yes can feel like relief, expansion, or a grounded kind of excitement—and this meditation is designed to help you recognize it in real time.
What to Do Next
✨Ask Meredith AI Coach Now https://link.pauseboxco.com/Meredith-AI
✨Spot one thing you’re tolerating this week—big or small. Then make a micro-shift toward honoring yourself instead.
✨ Notice how your body feels when you release endurance and choose aliveness.
And remember—these prompts are just a starting point.💃
You can ask the Meredith AI Coach about anything that’s up for you right now—whether it’s a tender truth, a hard choice, or a pattern you’re ready to shift.
Until next week,
+Big Love,
Meredith
