There have been mornings where I had to summon energy or grit I didn’t have — after personal loss, rejection, or exhaustion. But resourcefulness isn’t about what you have… it’s about what you do with it.

Ever wake up and feel like the day’s already gotten away from you?

On the most recent episode of Connected Teamwork, my friend Hylke Faber shared how he started the day with purpose — his morning routine, his coffee, his focus — only to open his calendar and feel instantly overwhelmed.

Zero time. Zero chance to get it all done.

That familiar shade in the mind dropped. He caught himself wanting to be frustrated — ready to declare it a “bad day” before it even began.

But instead… he paused.

He asked:

“What story am I telling myself right now?”

“Who would I be without all this mental clutter?”

“What am I grateful for?”

And suddenly, the day shifted. Gratitude replaced frustration. Perspective replaced panic.

When you zoom out, you can see:

Which priorities are truly mission-critical

Which “balls” in the air are glass — and which can bounce (Thank you Quinton Feltner for this analogy you shared with me recently!!!)

Which stories you’re believing that aren’t serving you

That’s how you turn “I can’t” into “Here’s what’s possible today.”

Because success — and peace — both come from the same muscle: choosing to respond with resourcefulness instead of reaction.

So next time your day feels unmanageable, try this simple shift:

Pause.

Breathe.

Reframe the story.

And remember: you still get to choose how the day goes from here.