When life hits us hard, exhaustion is the default.

Not only are you dealing with the reality of the situation, but you are also dealing with every worst-case scenario of what is to come in your head.

Our tendency toward negativity bias was a plus when the rustling in the bushes could eat you.

Now that most of us don’t have to worry about imminent danger every day our brains take every threat, minor or major, as an existential one.

Being constantly “on” is exhausting.

Not every threat is a threat.

We have to overcome that initial emotional surge from what has happened.

Then we have to try to harness those emotions positively.

We tend to push toward action.

We want the issue solved…NOW.

Action is positive if we know where we need to go.

If the future is vague we often need to be still.

Let it settle. Make sure that whatever you are going to do next is putting you on the right path.

That’s easier said than done.

We want it to be over. We want a good night’s sleep. We want the exhaustion to go away.

But going in the wrong direction only prolongs the pain because now we have to turn around and start over.

“The worst of it feels permanent, but usually isn’t. You don’t have to solve anything in that moment, or figure out what it all means. You just have to get to the other side of it.” – David Epstein, Range Widely newsletter.

Be still. Be present. Plan the next step.