How to Handle Life’s Curveballs Like a Pro

Life has a way of shaking things up just when we think we have it all figured out. One minute, you’re coasting through your daily routine, and the next—boom!—a job change, a big move, or an unexpected loss throws everything off balance. Change is the one thing we can count on, yet somehow, we’re always scrambling to adjust. Wouldn’t it be nice if handling life’s twists and turns felt a little less like an emotional rollercoaster?

That’s exactly what author Brad Stulberg set out to explore after facing a wave of personal upheavals—right in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, the world seemed fixated on getting back to “normal,” but Stulberg started asking a bigger question: What if normal is always changing? Instead of constantly reaching for the past, he wondered if there was a healthier, more sustainable way to approach life’s inevitable shake-ups.

The Art of “Rugged Flexibility”

Through his research, Stulberg developed a mindset he calls “rugged flexibility”—a way of staying strong yet adaptable, no matter what life throws your way. Instead of resisting change or clinging to what used to be, this approach helps us bend without breaking.

So how do you put this into practice? Stulberg suggests thinking of your identity like a house. Your foundation—your core values—should be rock-solid. But the way you express those values? That’s where the flexibility comes in. Your career, relationships, and routines are like rooms that might need a little remodeling over time. Instead of fearing change, embrace it as an opportunity to evolve while staying true to who you are.

How to Navigate Change with More Ease

If you’re facing a big life transition (or just feeling stuck), try these simple mindset shifts:

🔹 Ask yourself: “What’s truly important to me?” – When things feel uncertain, go back to your core values. What do you want your life to stand for, no matter the circumstances?

🔹 Ditch the idea of a “perfect” path. – No one has life all figured out. Success isn’t about avoiding change—it’s about navigating it with confidence.

🔹 Reframe challenges as opportunities. – Instead of seeing change as a loss, ask yourself, What new doors could this open?

🔹 Give yourself permission to grieve AND grow. – It’s okay to miss the way things were. But don’t let nostalgia keep you from moving forward.

At the end of the day, change isn’t the enemy—it’s a sign that we’re alive, evolving, and growing. The more we learn to ride the waves instead of resisting them, the stronger (and happier) we become.