Episode 213: How to Be Mentally Strong When Things Go Wrong

This episode is about those moments when life doesn't go according to plan: when things go wrong, fall apart, or just feel too heavy to bear. At these times, mental strength becomes our most valuable refuge. But what does it really mean to be mentally strong? How can we cultivate that strength without becoming rigid or emotionally shut down?

We'll be exploring one of my favorite quotes from the great Buddhist master Shantideva:

"If something can be done, why worry?

If nothing can be done, why worry?"

This deceptively simple teaching holds the key to freedom from anxiety, overwhelm, and emotional reactivity. In this episode, we explore practical strategies to move through worry and return to peace, even in the middle of life's messiness.

1. If Something Can Be Done, Why Worry?

When facing a challenge that has a solution, taking action (even a very small steps) restores our sense of agency.

Can you make a call? Write something down? Apologize? Ask for help? Tiny acts of courage move the mind from helplessness to confidence.

But often, we don't take action because our own minds get in the way.

2. If Nothing Can Be Done, Why Worry?

Sometimes, there's nothing we can do to change a situation. We have no control over a loss, an illness, or someone else's behavior. This is where mental strength blossoms, not from resistance, but from acceptance.

Here are a few practices for these moments:

• Limit your worry window.

Give yourself 20–30 minutes to think it through, write it out, or talk it out.