You've got this

I've noticed that sometimes I get lost in the weeds of worry.

How will I meet expectations? How will I navigate the challenges ahead? How do I ensure the outcome is positive for everyone involved?

Whether it's work, family, friendships, or personal goals, I've always wanted to do my best. As I've shared before, I believe that if I can lay my head down at night knowing I gave my best effort, then that is enough.

Yet sometimes, worry has a way of drowning out that reminder.

Recently, I was talking with a friend about some of the things weighing on my mind. As I shared my concerns, she looked at me and said something simple:

"Nicole, remember what you've already gotten through. You've got this."

Her words stayed with me.

They immediately brought me back to a moment in my life that, even now, I can hardly believe I navigated.

In 2018, while dating someone, we booked a vacation to Mexico. What was supposed to be a relaxing getaway quickly turned into a situation neither of us expected.

Issues with his passport that initially seemed minor became a serious problem when it came time to return home. Suddenly, we found ourselves stranded in a foreign country, trying to understand what was happening and what steps needed to be taken next.

There were moments of uncertainty. Moments of fear. Moments when it would have been easy to panic.

Instead, I focused on one thing: the next step.

I contacted the Canadian Consulate. I researched flights and accommodations. I arranged transportation. I gathered information and followed instructions. One decision at a time. One solution at a time.

Was I scared? Absolutely.

Did I know exactly how things would work out? Not at all.

But I kept moving forward.

Eventually, after interviews, paperwork, emergency travel documents, and more than a few sleepless nights, we safely returned to Canada.

Looking back, I realize something important.

At the time, I didn't feel strong.

I didn't feel brave.

I didn't feel confident.

I simply did what needed to be done.

And that's often what resilience looks like.

It isn't always courage without fear. More often, it's fear that doesn't stop us from taking the next step.

When I think about challenges today, especially those that feel overwhelming, I remind myself of that experience. Not because I want to relive it, but because it reminds me of what I'm capable of handling.

The truth is that most of us have already survived moments we once thought would break us.

We've navigated loss, uncertainty, disappointment, setbacks, and situations we never saw coming. Yet here we are.

Still standing.

Still growing.

Still moving forward.

So if you're facing something today that feels insurmountable, take a moment and look back.

Look at where you've come from.

Look at what you've overcome.

Look at the challenges you've already survived.

The strength you're searching for may already be within you.

The road ahead may not be easy. The answers may not come immediately. But if you've made it through your hardest days before, there's a good chance you'll make it through this one too.

Sometimes, the reminder we need is the same one my friend gave me:

"Remember what you've already gotten through. You've got this."