Sometimes life doesn’t derail politely. It doesn’t give you a warning, and it definitely doesn’t wait for you to have more capacity. It just shows up and knocks the whole plan off the table.
That’s exactly where I was this week. I was behind schedule, needed to record an episode, and hadn’t written a thing. So I did what I usually do when I need to land and get clear; I went for a walk. I was hoping for inspiration. Instead, I ended up with a sprained ankle thanks to my dog and an unfortunate moment of chaos.
But once I got home and sat down, something simple did come through. Not a huge revelation. Just an idea that felt important enough to share:
You have permission to not be great right now.
Not because you don’t care. Not because you’re giving up. But because some seasons are heavy, and “great” doesn’t need to be the goal. Sometimes the goal is just getting through the day without breaking yourself in the process.
I kept thinking back to Tuesday. It was supposed to be the day things finally opened up a little, the day my son Levi went back to school, and I would have more time and space again. But that’s not how it went. My entire day got derailed by a mix of uncontrollable situations and choices I made intentionally, like prioritizing time with my oldest son as he navigates healthcare now that he’s 18.
And when the original plan fell apart, I had to decide what I was going to do with what was left of my day.
I care deeply about my commitments and how I show up. But I’m also clear that I’m not willing to compromise my wellbeing just to stick to the plan. We already live with so many things we can’t control in caregiving life. There’s enough unpredictability built in. So when I do have a choice, I want to choose what protects me.
For me, that meant letting go of Plan A and choosing Plan B. And honestly, it was wonderful. Sometimes Plan B is better than you could’ve ever pictured when you were forcing Plan A.
This is the shift I want you to hold this week: choosing what you will focus on, and choosing what you will let go of in this season. If you’re in a lighter season, maybe you can push for excellent and go the extra mile. But if you’re in a hard season, or even just recovering from one, you may not need “more.” You may need ease.
So here’s the question to practice:
How can I let this be easy?
Not because your life is easy. But because it’s heavy enough already.
Sometimes you won’t see the answer immediately. Sometimes it takes time to even feel open to the idea. But even asking the question can shift something. It can create space for help, for letting go, for simplifying, and for choosing a path that feels just a little lighter.
This week, I’m practicing it too.
