People. Process. Progress.

Some weeks feel like life is throwing dirt straight onto our backs. Stress, pressure, grief, fear, and the quiet battles no one else sees. Today’s Faith in Action Friday connects the donkey-in-the-well parable with the real experiences many of us face when we feel stuck, overwhelmed, or buried.

I share openly about the seasons when I didn’t “shake it off,” didn’t climb, didn’t have strong faith, and sometimes blamed others, circumstances, or even God. I talk about the moments of loss, injury, grief, midlife shifts, raising kids, and the weight of self-evaluation over the years.

But in the last four or five years, something has changed. I’ve learned tools that help me rise when new dirt hits my back. I can see when I’m being selfish, when emotions are steering me, when I’m not moving enough, when my boundaries slip, and when I’m avoiding connection or ignoring sleep. And I know how to reset.

Anchor actions you can take today:

1. Look back, but don’t live back 👀
2. Own one thing today 🔐
3. Move your body 🏋🏻
4. Set one boundary before noon 🧱
5. Reach out to someone 🫱🏼‍🫲🏼
6. Check your sleep tonight 💤
7. Anchor in faith 🙏🏻
8. Take the next step 👟

Faith helps us shake off the dirt meant to bury us, see the next step upward, and climb from the places we thought we’d stay stuck.