Shera’s business collapsed after her business partner suddenly pulled out, and a week later, her close friend unexpectedly died. Jake looks back on the last five years, and all he sees are disappointments—a stressful yet dull job and a dating history where things never work out.

Both Shera and Jake are struggling in their own ways for good reasons. While life can bring joy, sometimes all you feel is life hitting you with body blow after body blow. Sometimes, these events are outside your control—the loss of Shera’s friend, simple bad chemistry on a date. Sometimes not—maybe Shera’s business partner felt she was too controlling; Jake’s dating life may reflect how he presents himself.

The challenge here is not only about successfully navigating these setbacks but also about learning something from them so you can move forward more effectively. Here’s how to get started:

Learning to run your life is a process of elimination; within every adverse situation in our lives are embedded lessons often about what not to do. Pay attention to those red flags, speak up when something is bothering you (or the opposite), and let small things go so you can focus on what is most important.

What is the moral of the story of Shera’s and Jake’s........

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