The Hidden Weight You’re Carrying: Emotional Labor and the P.O.W.E.R. to Reclaim Your Energy
So, let’s talk about it. If you’ve ever felt like the glue holding everyone and everything together—at work, at home, in your friend group—you’re probably carrying something invisible but heavy: emotional labor.
Hey, I’m Montina Myers-Galloway, a licensed clinical mental health counselor and mental health consultant for Black women in leadership, and I created The P.O.W.E.R. Lab just for you. It’s your weekly dose of truth, tools, and transformation to help you lead with confidence—without losing yourself.
What is Emotional Labor, Really?
Emotional labor used to mean managing your emotions at work to stay “professional.” Now? It’s much deeper. It’s the mental and emotional gymnastics of managing your own feelings while also tending to everyone else’s.
Sound familiar?
Being the family “fixer” 🛠️
Mediating work conflicts 🧠
Keeping everyone’s spirits up while hiding your own exhaustion 😅
It’s the weight we carry as caregivers, leaders, nurturers… and it’s EXHAUSTING
🌊 Deep Acting vs. Surface Acting
There are two types of emotional labor—and both can drain you:
Deep Acting is when you genuinely feel the emotions you’re showing. You're in alignment, but it's still work.
Surface Acting is when you're faking it to get through. That smile at the meeting? That calm voice in the middle of chaos? It’s performance.
Which one are you doing? Both take energy. Both cost you—mentally, emotionally, even physically.
🚨 Why This Matters
Emotional labor isn’t just “part of the job.” It’s a hidden occupational hazard. If you’re constantly carrying the load without support or release, it can lead to:
Burnout
Anxiety
Depression
Mood swings + emotional overwhelm
And yet… it’s rarely recognized, validated, or compensated. Especially for Black women in leadership. We’re expected to just handle it.
💡 So What Can You Do?
Here’s your action plan inspired by the P.O.W.E.R. Lab:
1. Recognize the Signs- That constant tension in your shoulders? That dread before meetings? That need to check in on everyone else before yourself? That’s emotional labor. Name it.
2. Set and maintain Boundaries - You don’t have to be everyone’s therapist, fixer, or sounding board. Create sacred space for YOU—take a walk, close the door, say “not right now.”
3. Practice Real Self-Care - Not bubble baths (unless that works for you). I mean saying “no,” asking for help, and making a practice of tuning into your own needs before the burnout hits.
💥 Ready to Go Deeper?
Awareness is just the beginning, sis. If you're ready to lead with intention, restore your well-being, and connect with other powerhouse women shifting generational cycles—join us inside Legacy Shifters. Legacy Shifters is our vibrant monthly workshop series where Black women leaders come together to grow, heal, and lead without burnout. It’s where strategy meets soul. You’re not meant to carry it all alone—and you don’t have to.
🔁 Share this with a sister who’s carrying too much.
Let her know: she’s not alone—and there’s another way.