(written in early March 2026)

What do you do when your life takes a sudden, unexpected turn? 

One minute you’re living carefree and wondrously, and the next minute you find yourself in the hospital or in a jail cell. 

One minute you’re finding rejuvenation in nature, and the next you’re discovering the nature you love is being destroyed. 

One minute you’re planning for a trip, and the next you’re canceling the trip, due to circumstances beyond your control. 

One minute you’re living and loving, and the next your world is shattered by death.

What do you do?

Our minds, bodies, and souls will naturally begin grieving. We’ll grieve the change. We’ll grieve the loss. We’ll grieve what could’ve been. And rightfully so.

Grieving is a result of loving. Loving life. Loving our job. Loving our play time. Loving friends. Loving family. Loving our planet and the creatures and creations it sustains. 

Grieving is hard. But it’s not a bad thing. Actually, it is an important part of living fully and loving deeply. It helps us become more of who we are. 

As we grieve, most of us eventually notice that we are ready to take a step toward a new normal. One way to begin that journey is by relying on our inner HERO.  

How can we do that?

Ask hope questions. Ask way power and will power questions. They can be big questions, like, what is a way I want to proceed in life? How can I find the will to follow that way? They can be returning questions, like, what was I doing before this unexpected turn? Am I still interested in it? What can I do next? Or even simple questions, like, what is the next thing that needs to be done at home or at work? Can I do it? Do I need help? Then take a few baby steps on your way.

Ask efficacy questions. What can I do? What am I good at? Then do one small act for yourself, someone, or something else.

Ask resiliency questions. Instead of bouncing back, how can I bounce forward? In five minutes, five days, or five months, what might my new normal look like? Then make a small bounce in that direction.

Ask optimism questions. What brings me joy? Where do I see good around me? Then do something small that brings you joy or strengthens the good.

Asking HERO questions and taking small steps activates the hope, efficacy, resiliency, and optimism within us. It helps us build a new way of living with our grief. 

When life takes a sudden, unexpected turn, we grieve. And then with the help of our inner HERO, we heal into a new version of ourselves.