Ever feel like life is coming at you faster than you can keep up? Like the ground is shifting under your feet, and no matter how hard you try, it feels impossible to get a handle on the chaos? I’ve been there—more than once. And I’ve learned a valuable lesson through it all: progress begins within.
I know this might sound simple, or even cliche. Real growth doesn’t come when everything is smooth flying. It comes when the stakes are high, when turbulence hits, and when you’re forced to make tough calls and deal with the unexpected. That’s where resilience is forged. Every single choice you make—big or small—shapes who you are and who you’re becoming. Every choice you make is forging you into the person you were meant to become.
People often ask how I’ve managed major setbacks in my own journey, such as failing a check ride in pilot training, or losing my career as a fighter pilot due to medical reasons. Honestly? It’s not that I had some secret formula. I just chose—again and again—to take ownership of my attitude and actions. As an Air Force fighter pilot, I had to do it. As someone battling tick-borne illness, I had to do it. And every time, even when progress felt painfully slow, I reminded myself that forward is forward. Small steps still build momentum.
Here’s the good news: you don’t need to flip your entire life upside down to see change. Start small. Stay consistent. Those tiny, intentional steps add up. They’re what guide you through the gap between chaos and calm, between adversity and achievement, between setback and success.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: your most turbulent times can eventually become your greatest personal triumphs—if you keep choosing to grow.
