[powersnail]

> culturally some of us are taught that this is a form of weakness

It reminds me of in David Copperfield, where Mr. Murdstone asked his wife to be "firm" all the time.

I think the fact that qualities that are classified as weak or strong, is ultimately a type of bullying. Sometimes, it's a person bullying another. Sometimes, it's the culture bullying individuals, giving extra punishment to people already in distress.

Action by self-bribery is better than strong idleness, and there ought not to be no shame in self-bribery if that helps people to live a better life.