Don’t Let the Hard Days Win – Part 2

Sometimes, the hard days are relentless.

The holidays can be a joyful time for many families, but they can also test the patience of even the calmest among us. Last week, two completely unrelated situations unfolded in our family — both emotional, both unexpected, and both opportunities to practice every mindset tool I’ve been writing about this year.

In each situation, emotions ran high. People were stressed, overwhelmed, or reacting from places I couldn’t fully see or understand. And like many of you, my first instinct was to defend myself, respond quickly, or match the intensity.

But this time, I didn’t.

Instead, I repeated two things to myself:

“Don’t let the hard days win.”

and

“Let them.” (thank you, Mel Robbins)

In the first situation, someone I love reacted strongly out of emotion and misunderstanding. Their words stung, and I felt the urge to take it personally. But when I paused and stepped back, I realized their reaction wasn’t about me at all — it was about fear, loss, and timing.

The moment I chose calm over defensiveness, everything began to soften. The situation also reminded me of boundaries I can’t allow others to cross. When that boundary felt wobbly, I stayed in crisis mode. When I finally stood firm, I felt a weight lift from my shoulders.

In the second situation, a completely different kind of tension arose — the kind that often appears during family gatherings when expectations, boundaries, and personalities collide. Again, I had to choose how I wanted to show up: reactive or intentional.

And once again, that mantra grounded me.

I took a breath. I chose patience. I chose perspective.

And slowly, the hard moment passed.

What these two experiences reminded me is this:

We can’t control other people’s emotions. We can’t control their timing, their stress, or their triggers. But we can always control our response.

Sometimes “winning” isn’t about being right — it’s about staying grounded. It’s about deciding that your peace matters more than the momentary chaos around you. It’s about letting others feel whatever they’re going to feel, while you stay anchored in who you are.

As we move through the busiest, most emotional season of the year, I hope these reminders help you too:

✨ Don’t let the hard days win. ✨ Let people have their feelings — without sacrificing your own peace. ✨ Pause before reacting. ✨ Respond from your values, not someone else’s storm.

And if you’re navigating your own hard moments this season, you’re not alone.

We’re all just doing our best — one deep breath at a time.

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