Pressure Is Real—But So Are You

"The pressure to be everything can make you forget you're somebody."

We said it. And if you're reading this, you’ve probably felt it too.

Whether you’re a creative, a community leader, or just trying to stay afloat—pressure is loud, and it doesn’t care about your schedule, mental health, or soul.

In this week’s Coffee Can’t Fix Everything, Corey Dion Lewis sat down with artist and creative Steven Lewis to talk about something we don’t unpack enough:
How do we keep pushing without pushing ourselves off the edge?

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What We Talked About (And Why It Matters)

1. Pressure isn’t always bad—until it is.
Steven reminded us that not all pressure is negative. There’s the kind that fuels you. But when balance disappears, pressure becomes a weight, not a motivator.

“Pressure comes from being unbalanced. You gotta start with balance.” – Steven Lewis

2. You can’t find peace in chaos.
Routine matters. Rest matters. Steven's gym sessions, time blocking, and being around positive people help him stay level. It’s not just productivity—it’s protection.

3. Social media is not your blueprint.
Chasing algorithms and trends can pull you away from your identity. Steven spoke truth when he said, “You create your own algorithm.”
Translation: You don’t have to post at 9, 1, and 5 to matter.

4. You are not your alter ego.
We build brands. We build images. But when those images start to replace who we really are, it gets dangerous. “You’re only human,” Steven said.
And that’s not a weakness. That’s the whole point.

Real Talk from the Culture

Steven dropped gems that echo the spirit of Nipsey Hussle and Tupac—be yourself fully or risk getting lost trying to be someone else.

We talked about healing.
We talked about generational trauma.
We talked about what it means to apply pressure with purpose—not panic.

What You Can Do with This

Audit your pressure. Is it fueling you or draining you? Write down what’s helping you grow vs. what’s making you spiral.
Build your own algorithm. Forget the trends. Post, create, and connect when it serves your soul, not when the app tells you to.
Take a break. Not because you’re weak, but because you’re human. Schedule rest the same way you schedule grind.
Find your people. Community saves. Have folks in your circle who can check you, recharge you, and remind you who you are.

Let’s Keep This Going

Talk to us. What’s your relationship with pressure? How do you protect your peace and still get things done?

Reply to this email or tag @coreydionlewis on Instagram, TikTok, or LinkedIn with your thoughts.
We’re building a real community here—and your story belongs in it.

☕ Coffee Can’t Fix Everything—but conversations like this one just might help.