From the Coach’s Chair: Staying With Your Goals When Life Throws a Curveball
What Brought Me to the Chair Today
The reason for this post is a personal one (aren’t they all lately?). Day one of my brand-new fitness program (I’m in a test group—can’t wait to share more when I’m allowed!) was off to a great start. I was rocking my morning routine, on top of my schedule, and feeling excited.
Then, in true five-year-old fashion, Garon pushed our dog a little too far and ended up with a nip. We’ve been working hard on dog safety with him, but it just hadn’t sunk in—until that moment. Suddenly, instead of a perfectly planned day, I was rushing him to urgent care to get the wound cleaned and stitched.
Any other day, this would’ve been my excuse to binge on comfort food, swing through the McDonald’s drive-thru, and say, “forget it, today’s ruined.” But because I had just started this program, I knew that wasn’t an option. Instead, I had to dig deep, find other ways to release stress, and remind myself how important it was to stick to my goals—especially when life wasn’t going as planned.
Why the Struggle Is Real
When life throws us curveballs, our brains switch into survival mode. We’re not thinking about nutrient-dense meals or squeezing in a workout—we’re just trying to make it through the day.
And while we may not be running from saber-tooth tigers anymore, our nervous systems don’t know the difference. Stress is stress, and our body reacts the same way: fight, flight, or freeze. Even something as “simple” as an unexpected urgent care visit can set off that spiral of anxiety, overwhelm, and exhaustion.
The first thing to go? Usually our health and wellness goals.
How to Stay on Track When Life Gets Messy
Here’s the truth: it’s not easy. But it is possible. Here are a few tools I lean on to help me stay the course when everything feels like it’s falling apart:
1) Focus on your “minimums.”
You don’t have to crush a 45-minute workout when you’re stressed out. Some light stretching, a quick walk, or even just drinking your water can be enough. The win is in showing up, not in being perfect.
2) Pause before you react.
Before you reach for the drive-thru or the snack cupboard, pause. Ask yourself: What do I really need right now?Sometimes the answer is food—but other times it’s rest, movement, or just a deep breath.
3) Swap coping tools.
If stress eating is your default, try a different outlet: journaling, venting to a friend, or taking 10 minutes outside. Replace the “quick fix” with something that actually restores you.
4) Lean on your why.
In stressful moments, your why matters most. Remind yourself why you started your journey—whether it’s energy, confidence, strength, or being the best version of yourself for your family.
5) Give yourself grace.
If you do stumble, it doesn’t erase your progress. One choice doesn’t define you. Just make the next choice a better one.
You’ve Got This
Your goals are bigger than the curveballs life throws your way. And truthfully? Sticking with them often makes the hard moments easier, not harder. That said—don’t forget you’re human. Slip-ups happen, and they don’t mean you’ve failed. It just means you’re doing your best in the middle of the mess.
So if you’re in the thick of it right now: take a breath. Honor where you are, choose your minimums, and keep moving forward—one step, one day at a time.
How Are You Doing?
Are you working through a curveball moment in your own life right now? I’d love to hear from you! Send me an email at jessica@bravelybecomingyou.com or share in the comments below so we can encourage one another.
XOXO,
Jessica
Hanging on by a thread (but still hanging on)