What Do You Do When Things Get Hard?
Truly, what do you do?
In my 20s, I believed life would get easier if I worked hard, kept my head down, and did the work. But I was wrong.
Somewhere along the way, I realised that things don’t necessarily get easier. Sure, I’ve gained knowledge and wisdom over the years, but that hasn’t made life any less challenging. What it has done is teach me how to deal with hard things.
I’ve always joked with my friends, saying:
"Mi cah deal wid hard life."
"Hard life is not for me."
"Mi nuh like stress."
And because of that mindset, I’ve often renavigated when things got difficult—because, honestly, who wants stress?
I remember a time when I walked away from an opportunity because it felt too overwhelming. I convinced myself it wasn’t for me, but deep down, I knew I was just afraid of failing or succeeding (I don’t know for sure). Looking back, I wonder—what would have happened if I had pushed through instead of retreating and self-sabotaging?
Maybe you’ve done this too—avoided something hard because it felt easier to ignore it. But what happens when running is not an option?"
Life has a way of teaching lessons, whether we want them or not.
As my mother would say, “You can’t always keep running.” And she’s right. When life feels overwhelming, when challenges stack up, we can’t always run, hide, or ignore them. Sooner or later, we have to face them.
The Uncomfortable Truth About Hard Things
I didn’t plan to write about hardship or discomfort today, but here I am. Maybe because I feel led to. Maybe because I’ve realised something important:
If I dislike hard, uncomfortable things, why do I keep choosing them?
At first, I thought it was just poor decision-making. But now I see that some challenges come with new seasons—times of transition, refinement, and growth. Deep down, I know that the very things I avoid are often the ones I need to face. Growth doesn’t happen in comfort, and challenges don’t last forever.
So, I ask again: What do you do when things get hard? Do you lean in, or do you run? And if you run… how long before you have to face it anyway?
I don’t have all the answers, but I do know this—running isn’t a solution. Sometimes, the only way forward is through.
Life teaches its lessons whether we’re ready or not. And hard things? They won’t wait. So what do we do?
We face them.
Current Listen
New Wine by Hillsong Worship
My favourite lines,
In the crushing
In the pressing
You are making new wine
In the soil, I now surrender
You are breaking new ground.
So I yield to You and to Your careful hand
When I trust You, I don’t need to understand
If you’ve found value in the reflections and tips I share, I’d love your support in growing this community. Here are a few ways you can help:
Engage with my content: Like, comment, and share my posts with your friends who might benefit from these insights. Your engagement helps my work reach more people.
Spread the word: If you’re inspired by something I’ve shared, tag me or mention it in your own posts. Let’s continue building a space of connection and encouragement.
Thanks for reading Candidly Carey! Subscribe to receive new posts about learning, unlearning, and relearning everything about business, living with intention, and embracing your true purpose.