Issue No. 98

Life has a way of overwhelming us. When its weight presses down, we often find ourselves scrambling for clarity, searching for an escape route from the maze of uncertainty that surrounds us. The mind races ahead, trying to predict every twist and turn, worrying about whether we’re moving in the right direction—or if we’re moving at all. I know this feeling intimately because I’ve lived it more times than I care to admit. Some days, I still do.

There was a time when my thoughts were consumed by the future—what my career would look like, how I’d navigate the inevitable decline of my aging body, or how I’d build the family I dreamed of someday having. These questions loomed large, casting long shadows over my present. I wanted answers, solutions, guarantees. More than anything, I wanted time to speed up so I could leapfrog over the chaos and arrive safely at some imagined destination where everything made sense. But wishing for tomorrow only stole peace from today.

What I’ve come to realize recently is both simple and profound: progress doesn’t happen by obsessing over the entire journey. It happens one step at a time. Instead of fixating on the endless possibilities of what might go wrong—or even what might go right—I’ve learned to focus solely on the next step. Not the one after that, not the finish line, just the immediate action before me. Because once you take that step, the path becomes clearer. And then, you can take another.

This mindset shift hasn’t been easy. Our brains are wired to seek certainty and control, especially when life feels chaotic. We convince ourselves that planning endlessly or worrying preemptively will somehow prepare us for whatever lies ahead. But here’s the truth:

I used to believe that success—or happiness, or fulfillment—depended on mapping out every detail of my life. If I didn’t have a clear plan, I felt lost, adrift in a sea of “what ifs.” What if I chose the wrong career? What if I missed my chance to start a family? What if my health deteriorated faster than I expected? These fears paralyzed me, keeping me stuck in cycles of anxiety rather than propelling me forward. But now, I see those questions differently. They aren’t obstacles to overcome all at once—they’re reminders to stay grounded in the moment.

Focusing on the next step doesn’t mean ignoring the bigger picture. It simply means trusting that each small effort contributes to something greater. Think of it like climbing a mountain shrouded in fog. You can’t see the summit, and you may not even know exactly how far you’ve come. But if you keep putting one foot in front of the other, eventually, you’ll reach higher ground. Progress isn’t always visible immediately—it accumulates quietly, steadily, until one day you look back and realize just how far you’ve traveled.

This approach applies to every area of life. In moments of professional uncertainty, instead of spiraling into doubts about where my career is headed, I ask myself: What’s the next actionable step I can take today? Maybe it’s updating my resume, reaching out to a mentor, or learning a new skill. Whatever it is, taking that single step alleviates the pressure of feeling like I need to solve everything at once. Similarly, when fears about aging or building a family creep in, I remind myself that these are journeys built step by step. Today’s choices lay the foundation for tomorrow’s outcomes, but I don’t need to rush them.

The beauty of focusing on the next step is that it brings peace to the present. When you stop trying to force the future into existence, you create space to appreciate where you are right now. Life unfolds gradually, layer by layer, and there’s wisdom in letting it do so without resistance. After all, time moves forward regardless of our wishes. Worrying won’t make it go faster; patience won’t make it slow down. All we can do is meet each moment with intention and trust that the rest will fall into place.

Until next week,