We Can Do Hard Things!

“We can do hard things.” — Glennon Doyle

Life has a way of testing us and lately, I’ve felt tested an awful lot! ?Sometimes, the challenges are expected—big work projects, difficult conversations, a personal goal that pushes us outside our comfort zone. Other times, these challenges come out of nowhere—a job loss, a health scare, a setback that wasn’t on our carefully planned roadmap, a personal blunder. In those moments, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. For me, self-doubt creeps in and the finish line feels far away or resolution unlikely. But here’s the truth: we can do hard things.

The Hard Things We Face

Hard things come in all forms. Professionally, it might be leading a team through uncertainty, navigating a tough negotiation, working through a disagreement with a partner/co-worker, or stepping into a leadership role you don’t feel 100% ready for. Personally, it could be overcoming self-doubt, making a difficult decision for your family, facing a poor decision in our relationships, or showing up for yourself when it’s easier to quit. No matter what the challenge is, one thing remains the same: Hard things shape us. They refine us. They teach us what we’re truly capable of and they strengthen the relationships that form the foundation of both our personal and professional lives.

Why Hard Things Feel Impossible (Until They Aren’t)

Our brains love comfort. When faced with a challenge, we default to hesitation: What if I fail? What if I’m not good enough? But history—both ours and others’—tells a different story. We’ve all conquered things we once thought were impossible. Think about something that once felt overwhelming to you—a career move, a fitness goal, a personal challenge, a really hard objective at work. You made it through - and now? That “hard thing” is part of your story, proof that you’re stronger than you thought. We each have a strong track record of figuring things out. Somehow, things have a way of working out.

The Mindset Shift: From “I Can’t” to “I Can”

As I was told time and time again growing up “Can’t never tried!” Doing hard things isn’t about being fearless—it’s about taking the next step even when fear is present. Taking things one step at a time helps us focus on progress, not perfection. It means we are trusting that struggle is part of growth. And it means that we recognize that no one has it all figured out. But action breeds confidence—or as I like to say, action creates traction.

The Takeaway

Hard things will always be part of life, so rather than resisting them, we can embrace them as opportunities for growth. But so will resilience, strength, and our ability to rise to the occasion. The next time we’re staring down something difficult, we need to remind ourselves: I’ve done hard things before, and I can do them again.

What’s a hard thing you’ve conquered recently? Drop a comment—I’d love to hear your story.