If not now... Then when?

“I’ll do it later.” — sound familiar?

We’re often deceived by the paradox of thinking, “we still have time,” while also knowing, deep down, “we may never even see tomorrow.” We tell ourselves, “I’m fine,” even when part of us whispers, “I don’t know if I can take this anymore,” or “my heart, my mind, my body can no longer handle this.”

When it comes to our mental health, we often believe we can manage on our own — holding what feels like the emotional weight of the world on our shoulders, seeing it as a sign of strength, keeping it all in while our bodies absorb the repercussions. We fear being labelled as “weak,” “crazy,” “unstable,” “psycho.” And so we keep pushing and brushing it off, making almost any excuse:

“There’s always tomorrow, or next week, or next time.” — Is there really?

Unknowingly, we minimize what we truly feel in order to appear okay to the world, forcing our authentic selves into silence — a silence we all learned and experienced in our early childhood. This not only delays our healing, but it enables the growth of our experienced symptoms until they’re no longer just symptoms, but a full diagnosis.

The days pass and we’re seemingly “okay,” unaware that postponing action keeps us stagnant while our symptoms and life struggles expand. It’s as if we’re constantly pouring out of ourselves, scrambling to find even the last droplet, before finally admitting: “This is it. I am completely drained. There’s nothing left of me to give.”

So, what is truly lost each and every time we delay ourselves? How heavy must the weight be in our hearts before we finally choose to put it down?

Because beneath that layer of postponement often lies shame, guilt, and fear. Sometimes it isn’t just the fear of being deeply seen — it’s the reality of confronting what we feel within ourselves that feels the most daunting. The simple thought of choosing to fully and honestly face our inner world can feel heavier than any external judgment.

“I just don’t have the time.”

But the truth is this: there is never a perfect time — only a right time. And it begins the moment you take the courage to choose yourself, even while fearing the reality of what you truly feel.

Booking that first counselling session. Journaling for just five minutes in your day. Checking in with one safe person. Taking a step back simply to breathe.

It’s those small steps of courage that eventually compound into real change. At the end of the day, it is the single step you take toward yourself today that can change every tomorrow.

So… if not now, then when?