"I died inside"

It was during a warm and cozy lunch with my colleagues one day that this phrase came up and for some reasons it has stuck with me ever since.

Because I can relate to the context of how it was used so very well.
Because it was the most accurate phrase to describe my state of thoughts and mood for the past couple of months or so.

But because seeing how feeling this way and still choosing to be strong and not give in to weakness works for someone... this originally negative phrase strangely became a huge source of strength for me.

It was a timely reminder for me to keep going.
That for all the times I wasn't strong enough and gave in to weakness in the past, this is the time to be strong now.

"I died inside, I really am still dying inside."
"But this time I will stand strong."