"I'm not pressured by society. I move at my own pace. I don't compare myself." The post is at 2 AM. The person has been scrolling for three hours. They just saw their secondary school mate's housewarming. Their own rent is due. Their own achievements feel small. But they're "not pressured." They're "grateful." They're "trusting the process." The "I'm not pressured" performance is peak Nigerian social media. It's the caption under the photo that took 40 attempts. It's the affirmation that follows three hours of comparison. It's the spiritual language that masks the spiritual crisis. And the comments! "Queen! This spoke to me!" "Needed this today!" Everyone is performing non-pressure together. Everyone is pressured. Everyone is pretending. The collective delusion is comforting. But the breakdowns! The 3 AM texts to friends. The "I feel behind" confessions. The therapy sessions that never make the feed. The pressure is real. The non-pressure is the performance. The gap between them is where we actually live. The healing starts with honesty. "I am pressured. I am comparing. I am struggling." The confession is the release. The performance is the prison. Are you actually not pressured, or are you just performing peace?
