Sometimes, when we look at the mountains of life ahead of us, they seem far too steep to climb. We stare at the summit and feel a sense of heaviness in our chests, wondering if we possess enough strength, enough patience, or enough courage to make the trek. Glennon Doyle’s words, We can do hard things, serve as a gentle but firm reminder that our capacity for resilience is much larger than our momentary feelings of fear. It is a truth that doesn't deny the difficulty of the struggle, but rather validates our ability to move through it.

In our everyday lives, these hard things rarely look like epic battles. Instead, they show up in the quiet, draining moments: the difficult conversation we have been avoiding, the grief that lingers after a loss, or the exhausting effort of rebuilding a routine after a setback. These moments can feel overwhelming because we often try to tackle them all at once. We focus on the entire mountain instead of the single, shaky step right in front of us. We forget that bravery isn't the absence of struggle, but the decision to keep walking despite it.

I remember a time when I felt completely stuck, much like a little duckling lost in a thick fog. I had a project that felt impossible, and every time I thought about starting, my heart would race with anxiety. I felt like I was failing before I had even begun. But then, I stopped looking at the finished product and simply focused on the next five minutes. I told myself, just do this one tiny part. Slowly, the fog began to lift. I realized that the hardness wasn't something to be feared, but something to be navigated, one small breath at a time.

As you move through your day, I want you to hold onto this truth. When you feel the weight of a challenge pressing down on you, take a deep breath and acknowledge that it is indeed hard. You don't have to pretend it is easy. But please, do not let the difficulty convince you that you are incapable. You have survived every hard day you have ever faced, and you have a remarkable reservoir of strength waiting to be tapped.

Today, I encourage you to identify one small, difficult thing you have been avoiding. Don't worry about finishing it or mastering it. Just commit to starting. Remind yourself, with kindness and certainty, that you can do this.