You’re Strong Enough To Keep Pedaling

A moment to reflect

If you’ve ever raced bikes, you know that, at the start, the pace is furious.

Your head’s on a swivel.

Your heart rate spikes.

Your mind plays tug-of-war: “I got this…Wait, No, No, I don’t.”

But if you stay calm, you can catch your breath.

You’ll begin to find your rhythm, and even though nobody knows how it will end, you trust your ability to compete because you’ve found your way through the initial flurry.

Life isn’t a sprint because it’s long. 

Life isn’t a marathon because the pace constantly changes.

Life, instead, is like a chaotic bike race.

And we’re all in one right now. 

Certainty is a myth we tell ourselves when we’re scared. 

It’s a safety blanket that keeps us from competing. 

And as we try to grab hold of certainty, the world keeps spinning.

Bear with me as I mix sports metaphors for a second

This past week, I spoke with a group of amazing humans, and one of them played college basketball and is currently a D-1 coach. She asked what Pause Breathe Reflect was all about, and I shared that it’s like a timeout when the game feels out of control or reaches a critical moment.

The coach calls a timeout. 

The game is paused, not stopped. 

The players towel off and catch their breath. 

Then, with a moment to reflect, the coach intentionally draws up the next play and reminds the players that they can win. 

Given the pace of the first four months of 2025, it feels like a critical moment. The stress has us questioning if we’re strong enough to stay in the game or should we tap out. 

As a result, some will curl up from the overwhelm.

Others will overreact or freeze. 

But many will catch their breath. 

They will reframe the chaos. 

They will find others to ride with.

And keep pedaling. 

The world has always been and will remain, sorry to say, uncertain whether we look through the lens of business, medicine, politics, or society. And yes, the uncertainty is amplified thanks to social media and cable news. It’s bananas and worrisome, but it’s the hand we’ve been dealt, and until we accept this, we can’t move forward. 

Your next step doesn’t have to be perfect.

All you need to do is take it. 

A real one. 

It’s small enough to start today.

Big enough to matter tomorrow.

We’re just one-third of the way into the year, and nobody knows how it will end. Sure, people have made predictions. But, like a bike race, nobody knows for sure. 

Except for this: 

Action eases anxiety. 

Press pause. 

Catch your breath.

And from a place of love, take action. 

It’s how you create ripples. 

Small, steady, and loving.

This is how you make a difference. 

Please don’t quit now; the race has just begun.

And we need you in this race. 

Until next week, have fun storming the castle! 

Michael 

Speaking of pedaling. Next Sunday, I will cycle through the five boroughs of NYC to help TBI survivors feel whole again. If you want to sponsor the life-changing work of Love Your Brain, you can sponsor my ride via this link: KEEP PEDALING 

Finally, I’m hosting a special session on Thursday at 8:30 pm Eastern, and if you’ve felt the stress of 2025, it’s a safe space for you. There will be a ton of coverage as the current administration in D.C. completes its 100th day in office on Wednesday. The pundits will pontificate, but I would rather catch our breath and start Mental Health Awareness Month in a circle of community. 

This is a non-partisan event, and there will be no talk of policy.

It’s about finding ways to move forward, connect, and navigate this moment with as much grace as possible. You and your friends are invited to attend, whether you drive a Tesla (take a listen) or not. If you’re interested, please respond here, and I’ll send you the link.

Did you miss any episodes of Whole Again last week? There were three:

Monday: A Microdose of Meditation to Help You Listen to Your Body

Wednesday: 3 Powerful Lessons about Healing from Season 3 of White Lotus

Friday: How to Use Micro-Moments of Mindfulness to Build Strength & Resilience

Be sure to order your free sticker and request a meditation, and I will try to record it for you. And don’t forget to download the P.B.R. app before our next life-changing update.