Today, I Need a Hug
Today, I woke up sad.
Not the kind of sad that passes with a deep breath or a distraction, but the kind that sits heavy in your chest. The kind that makes you pause and wonder, How did I get here? The kind that makes the next step feel uncertain.
The past few days have been… character-building. A dear friend just received a difficult diagnosis news that no one is ever truly ready for. And, on top of that, I lost a big coaching contract that will affect me financially. Through no fault of my own, just the reality of corporate cutbacks. Coaching and training are often the first to go when companies tighten their belts.
It’s a hit. Not just to my income but to my ego. If I’m honest, it knocked the wind out of me.
And here’s the thing: I know what I would tell my clients, my readers, my friends. I would remind them that adversity is a doorway, not a dead end. I would encourage them to feel it, to move through it, and to take one small step forward.
Now, it’s time to take my own advice.
When the Wind Gets Knocked Out of You, Pause but Keep Moving
It’s important to feel our feelings. Really feel them. There is no shame in sadness, grief, or frustration. When we try to outrun our emotions, they don’t disappear; they just pile up, waiting for us to acknowledge them.
So, I’m sitting with mine today. I’m letting myself be in this moment.
But here’s what I also know: while sadness needs space, it does not need to become a stopping point. Forward motion any motion is the antidote to despair. It doesn’t have to be grand. It doesn’t have to be immediate. But it does have to be.
• I’m going to take a bath. A simple act of self-care, a reminder that my body and mind need tending.
• I’m going to do breathwork and reflect. Not to push away the sadness, but to sit with it and listen to what it’s telling me.
• I’m going to reach out to the people who support me, the allies who see my value and will help me find the next opportunity.
Because when things fall apart, the only way to rebuild is to take one step, then another.
What I Recommend When Life Feels Heavy
If you’re in your own season of unexpected loss or uncertainty, here’s what might help:
📖 Read something that grounds you. I’m turning to No Mud, No Lotus: The Art of Transforming Suffering by Thích Nhất Hạnh, because sometimes, we need the wisdom of resilience to remind us of our own.
💨 Breathe, then move. Even if it’s just a slow inhale, a deep exhale, or a short walk outside. Movement shifts energy.
🛁 Prioritize self-care. Take a bath, drink tea, put on music that soothes or strengthens you.
📞 Call your people. We are not meant to do hard things alone. Someone in your circle is ready to remind you of your strength reach for them.
📝 Reconnect with purpose. Even if the road ahead is uncertain, purpose is never truly lost. It just needs to be remembered.
One Bite at a Time, One Step at a Time
I don’t have all the answers today. But I know this: I will move forward. Not by force, not by pretending everything is okay, but by making space for the feelings, then taking one step at a time.
So, if today you also need a hug, take this as one from me. You are not alone. The next step is waiting, and when you’re ready, you’ll take it.