The myth of the strong Black woman often compels us to ignore our limits, pushing us into a perpetual cycle of

over-giving and self-sacrifice. We come to believe that we must deny our own needs, thoughts, and desires, as though they hold less value or as though tending to them is somehow selfish or wrong. There's also a damaging misconception that self-care, self-reflection, and self-understanding are indulgent, or even prideful. The church often frames these as "selfish" ungodly acts, implying that the desire to uncover the image of God within ourselves is at odds with being a follower of Christ. Yet, without nurturing ourselves, our spirit becomes brittle, we burn out, feeling resentful, exhausted, lost, and unseen. In reality, true faith lies not in our willingness to pretend like we don't exist as individuals, nor does true strength lie in our ability to "do it all," but in our ability to recognize our limits and set boundaries, to ask for help BEFORE the pain becomes too strong to bear, to nurture our minds and spirits through the light of faith, and to recognize that we are worthy of love and care simply because we were made in the image of our creator. Self-care and self-understanding are not selfish, nor are they ungodly. They are the foundations of resilience, inner peace, and faith. They allow us to glorify God through serving others from a place of fullness and abundance rather than lack and depletion. Breaking free from the superwoman myth means embracing the truth that we are not unbreakable-

but we are resilient, courageous, and deserving of grace.