When the Weight Feels Too Heavy: Lessons from a Midweek Breakdown

"Some weeks nearly break you. Last week was mine."

Last week, I broke down.

Two toddlers to keep alive and thriving.

A husband whose support is steady, but who can’t always absorb the chaos.

A dog and a new puppy competing for attention.

And a business I’m building as a newly minted female entrepreneur.

It all collided midweek. With no nanny to lean on, the house was loud, the to-do list endless, and I found myself sitting on the floor, crying. The thought that looped in my head was simple: How in the world can I do this?

It felt impossible.

But here’s the shift: after the tears, I took a deep breath and decided to zoom out. Not everything could be fixed that day. Not every problem could be solved in the moment. What I could do, though, was focus on one thing at a time.

And let me say this clearly: tears do not show weakness. I believe that, and it’s what I want to teach my kids. Breaking down doesn’t mean you’ve failed—it means you’re human. What matters most is what comes after: getting up, taking the next step, and choosing resilience.

The Parallel to Business

This moment at home mirrored what I’ve seen in business—whether as a CFO, or now founder. Overwhelm doesn’t just happen in our personal lives. It shows up in boardrooms, in financial planning sessions, and when building companies from scratch.

Here’s what I reminded myself, and what applies equally to leaders and entrepreneurs:

1. You can’t solve everything at once. Problems pile up, but clarity comes from sequencing, not multitasking.

2. Pause before you react. Sometimes the most powerful move is to stop, breathe, and recalibrate.

3. Focus on the one thing that matters most right now. Whether it’s tending to a crying toddler or deciding which business initiative deserves priority, focus creates progress.

4. Resilience isn’t about not breaking. It’s about breaking and then continuing anyway.

Why This Matters

As entrepreneurs, leaders, and parents, the weight is real. The pressure to hold everything together—perfectly—is unsustainable. But learning to prioritize, reset, and move forward one step at a time is what actually builds endurance, both in business and in life.

Last week didn’t look like perfection. It looked like resilience. And honestly? That’s the more important win.

Question for readers: Have you ever had a moment where it all just felt like too much? How did you reset and move forward?