When the Hustle Hurts: Hidden Cost of Pushing Through Pain

It was just before the holidays when my partner came up for a visit. He had been away in California, completing a culinary program, and we were savoring every moment of our weekend together. But on the drive to the airport—just two blocks from my house—everything changed.

We were T-boned by a pickup truck at an intersection. My compact car spun twice before screeching to a stop. The crash was violent. When I stepped out, pain bloomed across my lower back, sharp and unrelenting. I later learned my L4 and L5 vertebrae had been injured.

And yet—this is the part that stays with me—I went to work the next day.

I got on the bus, transferred to the train, and endured a full hour of transit. Then I walked five blocks to the office, stopping two or three times per block just to breathe through the pain. Every step was a battle, but I kept showing up.

Why?

Because I thought that’s what good workers did. I thought rest was a privilege I hadn’t earned yet. It didn’t even cross my mind to ask for remote work or time off. My default setting was: push through it.

I lived like that for six months. And then—I lost my job.

The Lie of the Grind

This story isn’t unique to me. Chances are you know something about pushing through pain. Especially for those of us from the global majority doing anti-oppression work, there’s often an unspoken pressure to prove our worth through grit, overwork, and relentless endurance.

But here’s what I learned the hard way: it’s really difficult to be loving, creative, and visionary when you’re in pain. And it's nearly impossible to sustain deep, transformative work when your body and spirit are depleted.

A New Story of Success

I’m sharing this with you because what if success didn’t mean doing more, but doing differently?

What if you could lead, build, and expand from a place of ease?

Galvan Consulting is here to help you do just that. We’re not just managing your calendar—we’re helping you reclaim time, restore energy, and reconnect to your mission with clarity and care. Because your work matters. And you matter too.

Ready to work differently?

Let’s build something sustainable—together.

Reach out here.