Blind Can You Can

Tag: self-care

  • Does the Outcome Define You — or Does the Journey?

    Does the Outcome Define You — or Does the Journey?

    Does the outcome define who you are — or does the journey?
    It’s one of those timeless questions, like “What came first, the chicken or the egg?” You can argue both ways, and somehow, both sides make sense.

    We work hard for the people and things we care about — our family, our kids, our parents, our friends, our dreams. We pour our energy into building a better life for them (and for ourselves), but no matter how much effort we give, there’s always that lurking probability of failure.

    Even the odds aren’t always fair. But just like every great hero movie, when the chance of winning is only one percent, the hero still fights on. Why? Because they have hope and love for something greater than themselves.

    So, be that hero in your own story — the one titled Your Life.

    Now, let’s talk about gratitude.
    We don’t need to wait for tomorrow to be grateful. Gratitude is a choice we can make right now, today.

    It might sound like tough love, but the truth is this: you choose how to feel. Even in tragedy, even when life feels unfair — you still have a choice. Some people celebrate the life of a loved one when they pass, while others grieve deeply for what they’ve lost. Both are valid. The difference isn’t the event — it’s the perspective.

    No one can hand you happiness, joy, or gratitude like a gift-wrapped present. Others can give you memories, kindness, love, or even material comforts, but only you can decide to turn those into feelings of joy and thankfulness.

    You are the only one who can do that.

    You choose to be happy or sad. You choose to move forward or stay stuck. You choose to see your life as “good enough” or “never enough.” That’s no one else’s decision to make — it’s yours.

    So even when it feels hard (and sometimes inappropriate) to smile through the storm, try to find gratitude for what life has given you — and even for what it hasn’t. Be thankful for what’s coming, and for what’s already here. Because at the end of the day, your life is yours to define — and it’s already pretty amazing if you choose to see it that way.

    Take a moment today to pause and ask yourself: Am I living for the outcome, or am I appreciating the journey?
    Share this post with someone who might need that reminder — and remember, happiness isn’t found at the finish line. It’s built with every step you choose to take with gratitude.

  • One Step at a Time: Beating Overwhelm, Setting Boundaries, and Moving Forward

    One Step at a Time: Beating Overwhelm, Setting Boundaries, and Moving Forward

    Ever get that overwhelming feeling that you’ve taken on more than you can chew? Same here. Often, it’s a false sense of insecurity whispering that we’re not ready. A new job. A competition we signed up for. Extra volunteer work. At the beginning, everything feels daunting—mostly because the task is 100% unfinished. Of course it feels huge.

    That’s when it helps to take a page from Brian Tracy’s Eat That Frog! The mindset is simple: take it one step at a time—one bite at a time.

    Sometimes we overload ourselves because we want to be liked. We want to be helpful. We want to be the “yes” person. I’m guilty of that too. Friends say, “Let’s go out,” and I say yes—even when my dining-out budget is already in the red. Church asks for volunteers and my hand shoots up—then my vision limitations make the role tough to execute. I sign my son up for multiple activities, then stress about how to get him to all of them.

    I pile things on my plate because I want to look like a good dad, a caring friend, a useful human. And then I end up on the couch, stressed about everything I promised to do. Not exactly a winning strategy.

    So how do we handle this? First, I sit myself down and remind myself: I can’t do everything—and that doesn’t make me a bad person. It’s okay to pass. It’s okay to say no. Sometimes, as I’ve learned in jiu-jitsu, the best defense is to avoid the bad position in the first place.

    If you do end up in a tough spot, tackle it step by step. The task is doable—you just need to break it down. Remember those LEGO sets from childhood? The massive ones looked impossible…until you opened the manual. Step 1, then Step 2, all the way to Step 1,000. It always starts with Step 1.

    When you feel overwhelmed because you agreed to everything, come back to basics:

    • Set a boundary and decline what doesn’t fit your season.
    • If you can delegate, do it—get the family involved.
    • Focus on the next small action, not the whole mountain.

    There is a light at the end of the tunnel. If you keep moving—one step at a time—you’ll get from Step 1 to Step 1,000. And yes, you can still be kind, helpful, and dependable—without saying yes to everything.

    Progress, not people-pleasing. Steps, not stress. That’s how we win this one.