The Real Reason You Feel “At Capacity” (And Why It’s a Lie)
A Black woman with caramel skin tone, wearing a t-shirt and jeans, standing in a contemporary space. She looks exhausted and overwhelmed, like she's at her limit. But around her, unused space and untapped potential are visible. Her expression shows she FEELS full, but visually she's not actually at capacity.
If you’re feeling stuck, maxed out, or like you can’t handle more, it’s not always because you’ve truly hit your limit.
It could be because of one of three things:
1️⃣ You’re mistaking discomfort for a stop sign.
Hard doesn’t mean impossible.
Uncomfortable doesn’t mean undoable.
Growth isn’t supposed to feel easy. It’s supposed to stretch you.
Your body can go further. Your mind can expand.
But only if you stop running the moment things feel tough.
👉🏾 If you need more rest, take it.
👉🏾 If you need more support, seek it.
👉🏾 But don’t mistake “this is hard” for “this is where I stop.”
2️⃣ You’re carrying things that aren’t yours to hold.
Sometimes, we feel “at capacity” because we’re holding onto things that don’t belong to us.
👉🏾 Guilt from other people’s expectations.
👉🏾 Fear of outgrowing the people around us.
👉🏾 The emotional weight of old stories that aren’t even true anymore.
Let it go.
Half of what’s draining you isn’t your burden—it’s just what you’ve been conditioned to carry.
3️⃣ You’ve never seen what’s truly possible for you.
Your mind will only let you go as far as you believe you can.
That’s why some people never leave their hometown.
That’s why some people never earn more than a certain amount of money.
That’s why some people never push past the baseline of what they’ve always known.
They think they’ve hit a limit—when really, they’ve just hit the edge of their imagination.
🚨 But just because you’ve never seen it doesn’t mean it’s not possible.
🚨 And just because you’ve never done it doesn’t mean you can’t.
A Black woman with deep mahogany skin tone, wearing overalls and a t-shirt, pushing upward against a visible ceiling above her. She's pushing hard with determination. The ceiling cracks and breaks, with light breaking through from above. Above the ceiling is open sky and unlimited possibility. Her body language shows strength and breakthrough.
How to Break Through the Ceiling You Think Exists
When people say, “I just don’t have the capacity for more,” what they really mean is:
➡️ “I don’t trust myself to handle what comes next.”
➡️ “I’m afraid I’ll break under the pressure.”
➡️ “I don’t know if I have what it takes to sustain this.”
And I get it.
Because growth isn’t just about what you gain—it’s about what you let go of.
➡️ Let go of believing that struggle is your normal. You were not built to just survive.
➡️ Let go of the idea that you have to “earn” ease. You are allowed to step into more without guilt.
➡️ Let go of the version of you that doubts herself. The proof is already in your past.
SIDE BAR: 💭 Sis… You’re Not Wrong to Feel Tapped Out.
Listen…
If you’re feeling stretched thin, overwhelmed, or “at capacity,”
that doesn’t make you weak — it makes you human.
A lot of what’s draining you isn’t your actual limit…it’s the extra weight you’ve been carrying:
other people’s expectations,
old stories you outgrew,
pressure you never agreed to.
And Sis — breathe.
🔥 You’re not broken.
🔥 You’re not behind.
🔥 You’re not failing.
You’re a woman who’s been holding far too much with far too little support.
So if something feels heavy?
It might not be yours to hold.
Set it down.
Reclaim your energy.
And give yourself permission to be carried for once.
You were never meant to hold the world alone.
A Black woman with medium brown skin tone, wearing a t-shirt and jeans, visibly stretching beyond her comfort zone. Her facial expression shows a mix of nervousness and determination. Around her, visual contrast shows her comfort zone (smaller, dimmer, familiar) and the stretch zone (larger, brighter, full of possibility). Her body language shows she's moving forward despite the discomfort.
So, if you’re ready to stop playing small, here’s what you need to do:
1️⃣ Stretch Beyond Where You’re Comfortable
If it’s easy, you’re still in your comfort zone.
Your capacity grows only when you put yourself in situations that require more of you.
💡 Say yes before you feel ready.
💡 Take on the challenge that makes you nervous.
💡 Push yourself to the edge—and then go a little further.
Because the only way to expand your limits is to test them.
2️⃣ Build Stamina, Not Just Strength
Strength is about power.
Stamina is about endurance.
Most people can do something once—but can you keep showing up for yourself, over and over again?
💡 Success isn’t just about taking big leaps—it’s about being consistent even when no one’s watching.
💡 Growth isn’t just about getting better—it’s about not quitting when it gets hard.
That’s what builds real capacity.
3️⃣ Stop Waiting Until You “Feel Ready”
Here’s the truth:
The next level won’t come when you feel ready.
It won’t show up when it’s convenient.
It won’t wait for you to feel fearless.
It will demand that you take action before you feel prepared.
So instead of waiting for permission, move anyway.
A Black woman with honey skin tone, wearing a hoodie and yoga pants, standing with arms spread wide open in an expansive gesture. Her expression shows confidence and readiness to expand. Around her, the space is expanding—growing larger and brighter. Light radiates outward from her, representing her growing capacity. She's taking up more space.
Your Next Step: Expand Your Capacity Today
🔥 What’s one thing you’ve been telling yourself you can’t do?
🔥 Where in your life have you been mistaking discomfort for a limit?
🔥 What’s one way you can stretch yourself—without burning out?
You are stronger than you think.
You are more capable than you believe.
Your limitations may be real.
But so is your power.
So now, tell me:
👉🏾 What’s one way you’re going to expand your capacity this week?
No more holding back. No more underestimating yourself.
It’s time to expand your capacity—on your terms. 🔥🚀
A Black woman with light brown skin tone, wearing ripped jeans and an off-shoulder shirt, surrounded by shadowy representations of limiting beliefs—self-doubt, fear, perfectionism, old programming, comparison, and guilt. Light begins to illuminate the truth—that these are beliefs, not reality. Her facial expression shows recognition and realization. She's beginning to see the weight she's carrying is mental, not actual.
The Real Reason You Feel “At Capacity”
CHALLENGE OF THE WEEK
Identify one thing you’re carrying that isn’t yours — and release it.
HOW TO DO IT:
✔ Small: Name the emotional weight.
✔ Medium: Set a boundary around it.
✔ Big: Hand it back in real time (conversation, action, or refusal).
EXAMPLE
Small:
“I’m carrying guilt about saying no to my family’s needs.”
Medium:
Set a boundary:
“I can help on Saturday, but not during the week.”
Big:
When someone asks you to take on more than you can hold, say:
“I can’t take that on. That’s not mine to carry.”
Dr. Sagashus inviting you into the IMverse through the Wanted Newsletter or coaching.
FAQ SECTION
Q1: How do I know if I’m actually at capacity or just uncomfortable?
If you’re truly at capacity, adding more causes emotional or physical harm.
If you’re uncomfortable, it simply feels new, stretchy, or unfamiliar.
Growth requires discomfort — not damage.
Ask: Is this hurting me, or stretching me?
Q2: Why do I feel overwhelmed even when I’m not doing that much?
Because you might be carrying things that don’t belong to you:
• Other people’s expectations
• Emotional labor for your family
• Fear of disappointing others
• Old stories about what you “should” be
Overwhelm is often unprocessed weight — not real limits.
Q3: How do I know which burdens aren’t mine to carry?
If it drains you but doesn’t grow you — it’s probably not yours.
If it’s rooted in guilt, obligation, or someone else’s fear — it’s definitely not yours.
If letting it go brings peace — you just handed back what was never meant for you.
Q4: What if I genuinely don’t feel capable of more?
Capacity expands through practice.
You grow after you stretch — not before.
You don’t have to feel ready to start.
Just take one step.
Self-trust is built through action, not hypotheticals.
Q5: How do I expand my capacity without burning out?
Slow, intentional stretching.
Not hustle.
Not pressure.
Not perfection.
Think 5% beyond your comfort zone, not 50%.
Capacity grows like muscle — gradually and consistently.
Q6: Why do I fear taking on more even when I want to grow?
Because every next level requires:
• Letting go of past selves
• Setting boundaries you’ve avoided
• Releasing roles you’ve outgrown
• Trusting that you can handle what comes
Fear doesn’t mean stop — it means prepare to expand.
Q7: How does this connect to the Infamous Mothers lifestyle?
Because our brand is not about survival — it’s about expansion.
Every week, we teach women to:
🔥 drop inherited limits
🔥 release emotional weight
🔥 reclaim power and capacity
🔥 stretch into the next version of themselves
This post is a foundational part of that transformation.
ABOUT THE BLOGGER
Dr. Sagashus Levingston is an author, entrepreneur and PhD holder. She has two fur babies, Maya and Gracie, six children (three boys and three girls), and they all (including her partner) live in Madison, WI. She loves all things business, is committed to reminding moms of their power, and is dedicated to playing her part in closing the wealth gap for people of color and women. She believes that mothering is a practice, like yoga, and she fights daily to manage her chocolate intake. The struggle is real, y’all…and sometimes it’s beautiful.
Follow her on Instagram: @infamous.mothers