Feeling Stuck? How New Challenges Helped Me Move Forward

Last week, I shared the exciting news of my admission into Project Dragonfly! Through this program, I’ll deepen my understanding of animal conservation and even take in-person classes at Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens. I don’t know exactly where this path will lead, but the fact that I’m on it at all feels like a huge victory.

A while back, I listened to a Mel Robbins podcast about shifting your mindset. She talked about how an idle mind can make self-worth feel out of reach—when you don’t feel good, motivation is nearly impossible. Her advice? Give your mind something big to focus on so you can get out of your own way.

That struck a chord. I immediately started listing new writing projects, updating my website, and laying the groundwork for what was next. This all unfolded alongside my graduate school application—no small feat! And now, here I am, leaning into the unknown, creating for the joy of it, learning to loosen my grip on outcomes. It turns out, that makes it even more fun.

These steps might seem small, but they aren’t. The fact that I have the bandwidth to dream again is a marvel. A broken heart doesn’t last forever.

Still, confidence is a fragile thing, and stepping back into the world hasn’t been easy. I couldn’t have done it a moment sooner. I’m learning to give myself grace for that.

I’m finding that the more I turn toward what is painful and uncertain, the more space I create to begin anew. The grief, the confusion, the unanswered questions—they don’t just disappear. But when I stop resisting them, when I allow myself to sit with the discomfort instead of running from it, something shifts. Slowly, gently, space opens up. New possibilities take root.

So stay the course. Even if your path feels unsteady, even if you can’t see what’s ahead, trust the process.

Not all progress is loud.

Not all healing is visible.

Life moves in seasons—some full of momentum, others asking us to slow down and heal. No season is wasted. No moment is wrong. If you’re in a time of rest, honor it. If you’re in a season of rebuilding, trust it. Even the quiet steps that no one else ever sees are leading you to new possibilities.

Inward & Onward,