We all carry something heavy—stress, pain, fear, regret—and sometimes we let it become our identity.
A few years ago, I had severe back pain. I stretched a bit, lay on the floor after work, and tried to “tough it out.” It dominated my mind so much that people greeted me with, “How’s your back?” Pain had become who I was.
One day a friend asked me a simple question that cut through my excuses:
“What are you doing about it?”
I didn’t have a good answer.
She recommended a good physiotherapist, and then I went to a chiropractor. I got X-rays. My vertebrae were compressed from top to bottom—somewhere between 1–10 mm—and my spine had lost its natural curve. Not great.
I kept going. A couple years later, I added strength training—real lifting. Deadlifts, done properly, changed my back within weeks. Six or seven weeks in, the pain was noticeably better. A few months later, it wasn’t running my life anymore.
That one question stayed with me though and I started applying it to everything:
Stress
Feeling overwhelmed? What are you doing about it?
Audit your day. Where does the stress actually come from? Can you delegate? Can you simplify your inputs, say NO more often, or set clearer boundaries?
Finances
Money pressure building? What are you doing about it?
Audit expenses. Decide what to scale back and where to invest more (skills, tools, relationships). Small changes compound.
Anxiety about the future
Heart racing about “what might happen”? What are you doing about it?
Most of what I’ve feared never happened. Nearly 100%. Anxiety loves imagination; action loves reality. Do the next right thing you can control and let tomorrow arrive on its own schedule.
Relationships
Marriage on the rocks? Friendship drifting? What are you doing about it?
Lead with love, not blame. Communicate honestly. Take responsibility for your part. Ask for help if you need it—counsellor, mentor, trusted friend. Audit yourself: what can you do better today?
The Audit That Changes Everything
When something hurts—physically, mentally, financially, spiritually—ask the question and then do one concrete thing:
- Book the appointment.
- Make the budget.
- Send the apology.
- Start the workout.
- Turn off the screen and go for a walk.
- Choose the next right action—small, specific, doable today.
You can’t control everything. But you can always control what you do next.
So… what are you doing about it—today?
Quick Note
This is personal experience, not medical advice. If you’re dealing with pain, injury, or mental-health concerns, talk to a qualified professional.
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