You’re Not “Fine”...You’re Just Functioning

How high-achievers hide burnout behind success (and how to break free)

On paper, everything looked perfect.

Sunshine. Poolside. A vacation that should have felt like peace.

I was on vacation on a b-e-a-utiful tropical island.

The sun was shining. The pool was calling. I finally had a moment to sit down on a lounge chair with my book. It was supposed to be relaxing and taking a break. 

Suddenly my sunglasses were fogged up … because I had finally stopped long enough to feel everything I’d been pushing down.

I was only one or two chapters in when my friend looked over at me, eyebrows raised, and said, “Rosanne… are you CRYING?”

Yes. Yes, I was.

The title of the book was called, “Stop Saying You’re Fine” by Mel Robbins. What an appropriate title- because that was ALL I had been doing with everything in my life. Saying “I’m fine.” 

•         Smiling. 
•         Powering through. 
•         Keeping everything and everyone moving. 
•         Handling things. 
•         Not feeling.

I wasn’t letting anyone know I was struggling. I wasn’t even admitting it to myself.

And the truth hit me hard:

High-achievers are really, really good at pretending we’re okay.

The Silent Struggle of High-Achievers

What about you? Are you the one everyone counts on? The leader, the problem-solver, the go-to person when things need to get done?

But here’s the question no one asks you:

“Hey . . . . Who’s taking care of YOU?”

High-performers often don’t realize how depleted they are until they hit a breaking point. You’re ambitious, hardworking, and capable, but somewhere along the way, you started prioritizing everything and everyone else above yourself. 

✔ You tell yourself, “I’ll focus on me when things slow down.”
✔ You push through exhaustion, thinking “I just need to get through this week.”
✔ You convince yourself that this is just what success looks like.

Success should not come at the expense of your well-being.

Signs you’re running on empty:

• You feel mentally and physically drained, no matter how much you sleep.
• You’re constantly handling responsibilities but never feel caught up.
• You rarely make time for things that bring you joy or fulfillment.
• You tell yourself, “I should be grateful,” but something still feels off.

Sound familiar? You’re not alone.

Here’s the good news: You don’t have to stay stuck in this cycle.
 

Take Your Power Back

You don’t have to stay stuck in survival mode.
High-achievers thrive when they learn to:

✔ Protect their time and energy
✔ Prioritize their own well-being
✔ Redefine what success really looks like
✔ Get the right support to grow

It’s Time to Stop Waiting for “The Right Time”

This is exactly why I created Operation YOU, to help ambitious professionals break free from burnout, reclaim their energy, and build a life that feels as good as it looks.

 You don’t have to keep pretending you’re fine. You deserve to feel fulfilled, energized, and aligned. Your breakthrough starts when you decide you’re worth it.