A true story of emotional resilience, self-regulation, and how mindset tools helped me stay calm through chaos.
There I was – standing in the kitchen, grabbing a healthy comfort snack – heart still racing, breath still catching up with me. I had just survived a digital disaster.
Well, maybe not a disaster… but definitely a “time-wasting, soul-sucking loop of doom” that I couldn’t solve on my own. My website had gone haywire, and I was out of my depth. Tech issues like this used to wreck my whole day. I’d freak-out, spiral, say words I shouldn’t – at a high volume, and probably abandon whatever project I was working on. But this time?
This time was different.
The Shift That Surprised Me
Yes, I was stressed. But no, I wasn’t falling apart. In fact, I handled the whole thing like someone I barely recognized – the calm, solution-focused, peace-holding version of me. I felt like one of those high-powered boss-babes portrayed handling disasters on T.V.
I calmly explained the issue to my husband at lunch without the usual emotional rollercoaster. I contacted my hosting provider (a trusty bunch, bless them!) and handed the problem over to people who knew what they were doing.
Then I let it go.
Seriously… I just let it go! Who is this calm and confident woman? I moved on to something more productive instead of continuing to obsess over it, or avoid it all together and binge Netflix! And in that moment, I laughed to myself and thought:
“Wow… this must be what it feels like to be mature! LOL.”
I had never really considered myself immature before, but the contrast was so noticeable, I couldn’t ignore it. It wasn’t just a website fix, but evidence of deep personal growth.
This Is What Growth Feels Like
That moment was a mini milestone on a longer journey of learning self-regulation, mindset awareness, and emotional resilience.
It felt like:
- Maturity
- Self-control
- Calm in chaos
- Growth in action
It felt like freedom, and let me tell you – it felt freaking amazing!
I’ve been through a season lately that was full of trials and unexpected stressors. In the past, those moments would have taken me out. I would have:
- Avoided the hard things
- Found distractions instead of staying focused
- Let discouragement derail my goals
- Let one emotional moment color my entire day, which could affect my productivity for a lot longer
But now? I was standing in the kitchen thanking God – not for the problem, but for the change inside of me.
Here’s my actual prayer: “Thank You that my husband didn’t have to put up with an emotional freak-out today.
Thank You that I didn’t have to put up with it either!”
It’s More Than a Mindset. It’s a Way of Living
All throughout the day, I had been feeling it happen, like watching a plant sprout. I caught old thought patterns and reframed almost automatically. I was giving myself grace and saying things like:
“You’re learning. You’re growing. You didn’t know then what you know now and that’s okay. You can do this if you just keep trying.”
That’s the power of:
- A growth mindset
- A resilient attitude
- Self-regulation
And the consistent growth from the inner work of renewing our mind, managing our thoughts and updating our attitudes and mindsets to more helpful ones.
The truth is, I didn’t really set out to do that. I started learning and teaching these tools for kids. But now I realize these aren’t just school skills, but life survival skills. They’re what help us show up with strength and peace when life hits hard.
It’s Like Studying for a Test… and Passing
Tests aren’t fun. Have you ever taken a stressful test that still feels good because you actually studied? That’s how this whole week has felt.
Every challenge, every mini crisis, has been a test – and for once, I felt prepared. That’s the thing about life: it will test you. There will be curveballs. But if you’ve been training – practicing mindset tools, emotional regulation, and faith-based self-talk, then you show up like a warrior who’s ready for the battle.
You don’t win every moment, but you win way more than you used to.
Final Thoughts: The Warrior Way
Warriors who stay prepared and trained before the battle are the ones most likely to survive it and win. In this life, we are in a battle in our minds, emotions and in trying to reach our goals and live a good life. Circumstances and situations hit us from all sides sometimes.
The mindset, attitude and self-regulation skills I’ve been learning and writing about, mainly for children at the beginning, aren’t just about becoming better learners, like I thought. They’re also useful for being prepared for the battles of life. They will help us conquer and overcome.
You don’t notice your growth until you go through a battle and handle it with more calm than usual. Growth doesn’t always come with fanfare or fireworks – it comes quietly, in a moment when your website crashes and your peace doesn’t. This journey I’m on (and maybe you’re on too) is about more than productivity or personal development. It’s about becoming someone who is resilient, hope-filled, and strong in spirit. Someone who can face life’s battles with grace.
So here’s to:
- Deep breaths in the kitchen
- Silent victories no one else sees
- And becoming a prepared warrior – one mindset shift at a time
Let’s keep growing.
Here’s some helpful questions to ask yourself:
What recent situation revealed growth in you?
How do you typically respond to unexpected stress? How would you like to?
What small mindset shift could help you handle your next challenge with more peace?
If you want some help managing your mind, check out my FREE eBook 7 Steps to Managing Your Mind – A guide to managing your life by improving your thought habits and mindsets and take the next steps in your own growth journey!