After the Fall

Hello, fellow thinker!

When life hits us with bad news — when something doesn’t go our way, or someone lets us down — there’s that instant sting. We feel hurt, shocked, heartbroken, unsure how to move forward. It’s the kind of moment where time freezes, but our thoughts don’t. They loop endlessly, replaying what happened, searching for a way to rewrite it.

Then, slowly, the storm quiets. The reality sets in — not with relief, but with a kind of clarity. And in that moment, we realize: it’s not the past that matters anymore. It’s the future. What we do next becomes the only thing within our control.

As I look back on the letters I’ve written — about assumptions, problem solving, energy, and honesty — I see them as lessons meant for these moments. The times when life doesn’t follow the plan, and we’re left standing in the gap between what was and what will be.

When I wrote “Assuming You Will Read This,” I talked about how assumptions shape our reality. I realized that “positive expectations can lead to a more favorable reality.” But what about when things don’t work out — even when we had the best intentions, the most careful planning, and a hopeful heart? Sometimes, despite all that optimism, life still finds a way to rewrite the ending.

That’s when I remind myself that this isn’t failure — it’s part of the journey. Maybe it wasn’t supposed to happen that way. Maybe there’s something else waiting, a different version of the story still unfolding. The point isn’t that everything works out the way we want — it’s that we keep our mind open for things to get better. We keep assuming possibility, even in the face of disappointment.

In “Problem Solving,” I reminded myself that “we must play with the cards we are dealt.” Life doesn’t always give us the hand we hoped for, but it always gives us a chance to play again. Sometimes, the best answers come when we stop forcing them — “I ask myself: ‘What is the solution to Problem X?’ and then go to sleep. When I wake up, the answer comes to me.” The mind heals and rebuilds quietly, in its own time, if we trust it to.

In “Recovering and Replenishing Your Energy,” I explored the idea that not all effort leads to progress. Some days, the hardest and most productive thing we can do is rest. Energy is something we can restore. We are not meant to be in motion all the time. Pausing is not quitting. It’s preparation.

And in “All About Sugarcoating Things,” I wrote a line that has stayed with me: “Sugarcoating reality serves no one.” Honesty — especially the kind that stings — is what clears the fog. It’s what allows us to see where we truly are so we can take the next right step.

All of these lessons form a kind of guide that can be used for finding your footing again when the ground shakes.

The Grounding Rules:

• Assume possibility. The future is still unwritten, and you hold the pen.

• Face challenges with honesty. Truth is the cleanest wound.

• Trust yourself to solve problems. You’ve done it before; you’ll do it again.

• Protect and renew your energy. Rest is not weakness — it’s wisdom.

These are the quiet reminders that help us move through life’s storms. We don’t always get to choose the timing, the outcome, or the lessons — but we do get to choose how we respond.

So if you’re standing in that uncertain space right now — between what hurt and what’s next — keep walking. The future is waiting for you to show up.

Keep thinking, my friends.

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