Living Unshakable GRIT When Fear of the Future Takes Over
Good Lord, do I find myself future-tripping. If I’m honest, this is probably one of the biggest things that takes me out of the present and keeps me from being the best version of myself.
And let’s face it, it’s real easy to future trip in today’s world. The economy feels shaky. People are losing jobs left and right. Retirement chatter is everywhere. And here I am at 58, knowing I made a lot of mistakes. I cashed out my 401(k). I don’t have the “nest egg” many of my friends and family built over decades. Truth is, I don’t look too pretty for retirement on paper.
And when I compare myself to them, I can go down a huge rabbit hole of fear, shame, and regret. It’s like my brain takes off running into a future that hasn’t even happened yet and leaves me powerless in the moment I actually have.
But here’s what the past 16 years of sobriety have taught me: no matter what, I will be okay if I stay in the day and do the next right thing.
When I choose kindness…
When I help others instead of drowning in self-pity…
When I do the next honest, responsible thing in front of me…
…my bills get paid. My needs are met. And most of all, my peace is protected.
That’s how GRIT meets fear of the future:
Growth: I stop comparing myself to others and ask, What part of this is mine to change? I can’t change the fact that I spent my retirement savings or control the economy. But I can change how I show up today whether that means saving a little, saying yes to new opportunities, or choosing gratitude instead of comparison.
Resilience: I keep showing up even when fear tells me I’m too far behind.
Integrity: I take small, honest steps today that line up with the future I want.
Tenacity: I refuse to quit just because the gap feels overwhelming.
The truth is, fear wants me to live in tomorrow. GRIT brings me back to today.
If fear of the future is taking you out of the present, here’s a question from the 30-Day GRIT Challenge to sit with:
What fear have I been avoiding that might be holding me back from moving forward?
Because fear loses its grip the moment you name it and the moment you take one small step, today, in spite of it.
