Welcome to Spring 2026
- Deb Borofka
- 5 hours ago
- 2 min read
The second half of the Academic Year is upon us. For some of us, it can be the second semester trudge, or the final semester before graduation or transfer. Normally, this is a time of year where I look forward to the Blossom Trail that begins here in our valley and the gradual return of sun and blue skies. I CAN DO HARD THINGS- has become our mantra this past week. I would like to pass on what my family and I are being reminded of each day. We are making ourselves stop and notice the small pieces of beauty or kindness that come our way in the midst of some very difficult challenges.
I looked up some suggestions for all of us when we are faced with what seem like impossible challenges…. Here are some I found while searching Google and I think they are pretty good:
Strategies for doing hard things
Embrace a growth mindset, focusing on learning rather than just outcomes, and build an identity as someone who handles challenges.
Divide large, daunting tasks into small, manageable steps to make them feel less overwhelming.
Connect to your deeper reasons for pursuing a goal to find enduring motivation.
Incorporate small, consistent "hard" actions (like a daily short run) to build discipline and "callus" your mind.
Recognize that "done is better than perfect" and allow for mistakes as part of the process.
Visualize Success:
Picture yourself overcoming obstacles to build confidence.
Practice self-compassion when things get tough.
Develop routines for challenging activities to build consistency beyond just willpower.
Why it works
Neuroplasticity: Pushing your brain with new skills strengthens it.
Resilience: Each hard thing you do builds your capacity to handle future challenges.
Identity Shift: Consistently acting as someone who does hard things rewires your brain to crave discipline and effort.
No matter where you find yourself at the beginning of the year, here is to learning to cultivate this kind of perspective, one that shifts from avoiding difficulty and choosing to seeing it as a path to growth and fulfillment.
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