You know those days when everything seems to resist you? You’re not just a little out of sync with life – it’s like the whole universe has launched a petty vendetta.
Let me tell you about one of those days – and what I did to stop myself from losing the plot entirely.
The Warning Signs That You’re Going Against the Grain
It started with a very important letter. The kind of letter that has to be sent by recorded delivery because it really matters. And, of course, I’d left it until the one day when I had a hundred other things to do.
But I was determined. I packed it up, dragged myself into town, got completely drenched in the process (because it always rains when you’ve just straightened your hair), and headed into the post office.
That post office, by the way, smelled like ammonia and looked like the 90s had thrown up. Flashing lights. Signage with the name of our town spelled wrong. A queue that felt like it was draining years off my life.
I waited. Sweating, soaked, envelope soggy. And when I finally reached the counter…
“All of our systems are down.” 😩
That’s the moment the universe quietly whispers: You’re not meant to be doing this right now.
When Everything Screams “Stop Pushing” – Listen
At this point, a sensible person might pause. But not me. I trekked back through the rain, to my car, drove to a different post office – only to find a handwritten note taped to the door saying they’d all been shut.
No problem, I thought. I’ll make something good of this. I’ll visit my sister instead. Bit of an unexpected detour, but we’ll make it a win.
Except… solid traffic. Completely jammed. No way in or out.
And this is where most of us, if we’re being honest, keep pushing. We moan. We grit our teeth. We power through. We convince ourselves that “just one more errand” will make the struggle worthwhile.
But what’s actually happening is this: you’re exhausting yourself by fighting the current.
The more resistance you meet, the more you need to pause – not press.
What Happens When You Stop Resisting
Eventually, I did what any emotionally intelligent woman pretending to be a professional would do: I detoured to M&S, bought myself some choux buns, told the staff I had an errand, and sat in the car park in blissful silence. Just me, a pastry, and the sweet release of surrender.
And guess what? The world didn’t end. The letter went the next day. My stress levels dropped. I’d stopped forcing life to bend to my will, and just let it be what it was.
There’s something powerful about recognising when efforting is actually just resistance in disguise.
This Is What We Teach in the Coaching Franchise (Seriously)
You might be wondering what this has to do with running a coaching franchise. The answer is: everything.
Because when we train people inside our coaching franchise, we don’t just give them strategies for their clients. We teach them how to manage themselves – their energy, their boundaries, their inner critic, and yes, even the voice that says “just one more errand” when the world is clearly saying rest.
Running a coaching franchise isn’t about productivity at all costs. It’s about alignment. Knowing when to push, and when to pause. Knowing when something feels right – and when it doesn’t. And knowing that your peace of mind is just as valuable as your client list.
So next time the world throws flashing lights, soggy envelopes, and broken systems your way, remember this:
Sometimes the smartest, sanest thing you can do… is sit in a car park and eat a bun.
by Gemma Bailey (with the help of Ai)
