Today, I want to talk about something very real—the stressors of life. Some we can control, and some we can’t… or can we?
Now, why is this top of mind? Well, I’ve just come through a cyclone. No power for three days. I had to fill the bathtub just to have water to flush the toilet. Had to throw out an entire fridge and freezer full of food. And my underground garage? Flooded.
But I live on the 5th floor, so I knew I wouldn’t flood. That’s when I started thinking:
Some things in life are completely outside of our control.
But how we respond? That’s always in our hands.
So, let’s talk about stress—what we can’t control, what we can, and how we can shift our mindset to handle life’s storms, whether literal or metaphorical.
The Uncontrollable vs. The Controllable
Life will always throw unexpected challenges our way. A storm. A power outage. A sudden bill. A business setback. A relationship shift.
When these things happen, our first reaction is often frustration or stress—because we feel powerless. But here’s a thought:
What if we stopped fighting what we can’t change and started focusing on what we can?
What We Can’t Control
✔ The weather
✔ Unexpected disruptions
✔ Other people’s actions
✔ Sudden challenges in business, health, or life
Trying to control these things is like trying to stop a cyclone with our bare hands. Impossible.
But here’s where the magic happens…
What We CAN Control
✔ Our mindset – Choosing to adapt instead of panic.
✔ Our preparation – Taking steps ahead of time where possible.
✔ Our response – Finding solutions instead of dwelling on problems.
✔ Our focus – Choosing to see opportunity instead of just obstacles.
Let’s take my cyclone experience as an example. I couldn’t control the storm. But I could decide:
How I handled those three days without power.
- Whether I let the frustration take over or found ways to make the best of it.
- Whether I focused on loss (food, time, comfort) or resilience (the fact that I got through it, that I had water, that things could be replaced).
And here’s what I learned: Stress doesn’t come from the event itself—it comes from the way we see it.
Reframing Stress: The Power of Perspective
Every challenge in life gives us two options:
Get stuck in frustration and feel helpless.
Accept what is, adapt, and move forward.
The more we shift toward option 2, the more resilient we become.
So, let me ask you: What’s a stressor in your life right now? Is there part of it you can control? Can you reframe how you see it?
My challenge for you today: When something stressful happens, pause. Take a breath. Ask yourself, what part of this can I control? Then take action from that space, ra