The Gift Inside the Hard Things

Recently, I came across a quote from Sahil Bloom:

I felt that in my bones.

Life has a way of handing us plot twists we didn’t audition for—personal storms, global chaos, the quiet heaviness our people carry, the ache we carry ourselves. Sometimes the lesson isn’t obvious in the moment (or the month). But with a little distance—one week, two weeks, three months—you can often spot the gift tucked inside the mess: a truth you needed, a boundary you finally set, a new direction you hadn’t considered.

The Reframe That Helps Me Breathe

When something hard knocks me sideways, I try to remember: it may not feel like it now, but there’s an invitation here. An invitation to learn, to pivot, to grow.

Not toxic positivity. Not pretending it didn’t hurt. Just a quiet shift:

• from “Why is this happening to me?” to “What might this be teaching me?”

A Short Pause for Reflection

If you’re in it right now, take a moment. Grab a pen. Ask yourself:

• What can I learn from this—about me?
• What does this reveal about what I value, need, or won’t tolerate anymore?
• What am I feeling, really—and what is that feeling asking for?
• What did the people around me show me (good or not-so-good)?
• What did my environment—work, home, routines—make easier or harder?
• What did work, even in the chaos? (There’s always at least one thing.)

Let whatever comes up be enough.

Tiny Changes Count

Every single morning is another chance to change—and you’re allowed to change as many times as you need. Start small:

• Release one thing that clearly isn’t working.
• Keep one thing that is working.
• Try one tiny experiment for the next seven days.

Progress over perfection. Adjust as you go.

When Hopes Become Nightmares

Sometimes the thing we believed in—an opportunity, a plan, even a person—doesn’t just fizzle; it turns into a full-on nightmare. If that’s you, I’m sorry. Truly. Sit with it long enough to see it clearly:

• What actually happened?
• What did it cost you?
• What did it teach you that you couldn’t see before?

You don’t have to rush the meaning-making. Often the lessons arrive after the nervous system settles—after you’ve processed, calmed, and started to heal. Give yourself that time.

My Gentle 5-Step Reset (When Everything Feels Like A Lot)

1. Name it: “This is hard, and I’m safe to feel it.”
2. Breathe: In for 5, hold for 5, out for 5—five rounds.
3. Extract two lessons: One about me, one about what matters.
4. Choose one move: A boundary, a conversation, a calendar change, a habit tweak.
5. Close with kindness: “I’m learning. I’m allowed to pivot.”

If You Need the Shortcut

You don’t have to figure out your whole life today. Just identify the smallest next step that honors what you’ve learned. Then take it. That’s growth.

And if nobody’s told you lately: you’re doing better than you think. Keep going.