Every now and then, a week arrives where nothing works out as planned.

This week, mine began with a bad back—no relief from anything I tried. It disrupted my sleep and left me irritable. Add family challenges and a traffic fine, and all I wanted was to crawl back to bed.

A friend has a saying: when things go sideways, treat it as a “training day.” These are opportunities to sharpen tools and practise what helps you stay calm and grounded.

Sometimes the work is slowing down, creating space in the chaos. Other times, it’s small acts of self-compassion—rest, good food, or whatever you need in the moment.

This week gave me plenty of chances to practise focusing on what I can control and letting go of what I can’t.

Reframing tough days as training days builds a growth mindset. It’s a way to see challenges as practice grounds for kindness—to ourselves and others.