I’d sold my house, we’d moved livery yards and the plan was working – until it wasn’t.

On 6th January, my house sale fell through because someone in the chain withdrew. Completely out of my control — and yet it impacted me in a big way and suddenly I was back to square one… or so I thought. Not quite the start to 2026 I’d planned for.

That single decision meant:

– I can’t release the equity to go full-time in my business – 𝘆𝗲𝘁
– I need to continue working alongside it
– I’ve spent money I won’t get back — money I really can’t afford to lose

James Clear writes in Atomic Habits:

“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”

When life throws a curveball, how we respond is a reflection of the systems, habits, and foundations we’ve built before things go wrong.

– Journalling
– Meditation
– Daily walks
– Nourishing food
– Removing alcohol
– Investing energy into meaningful connections

These are my foundations. And what I’ve learned is this: strong foundations build resilience.

So yes — I had a good cry on Tuesday night, gave myself permission to feel the emotion, and came back on Wednesday ready to move forwards. That wasn’t weakness — that was nervous system regulation and my body responding appropriately to the situation. 

Knowing and reminding myself that this is all temporary helped bring myself back to rationally thinking things through and practical next steps. Things change, they always do, and it’s how we navigate that change and deal with setbacks that builds resilience.

Reminding myself that this is temporary helped me return to rational thinking and practical action. This week I’ve focused on:

– Controlling what I can control
– Leaning into my anchors
– Taking daily, intentional action

I’m journalling and meditating every day.
Walking — even in the snow.
Eating well.
Reading.
Showing up for my business.
And sharing what’s happened instead of burying it and pretending everything’s fine.

I’m also reminding myself of this – I’m not where I was a year ago and I’m taking it one step at a time — like a mountain goat on the side of a cliff — asking myself, what’s my next best step?

If you haven’t read Atomic Habits, I highly recommend it.
And if you have, it’s worth reading again — perspective changes with experience.

– What anchors do you call on when life throws you a curveball?
– How quickly do you bounce back?

Coaching and mentoring can help you build resilience before you need it. The best time to do the work is when things are going well.

And if you’re curious about building stronger foundations and greater resilience, I’d love to explore that with you.

With love,
Nicky