Have you ever had one of those moments where you thought, “OH SH*T! What in the world am I going to do now?!”
I had one of those moments recently, high up on a mountain in Colorado.
This year, I decided to take my son, Jedidiah, and my daughter, Lucy, on a high-elevation camping and hunting trip. We were aiming to camp near the elk to avoid hiking dozens of miles every day. Because we’d be at high altitude, I did everything humanly possible to prepare:
I bought a brand-new diesel heater to shield us from frigid mountain temperatures.
I bought a brand-new lithium battery to run the heater.
I packed a reliable battery jump-starter.
I brought a solar panel to keep our gear charged.
I built a checklist a mile long to ensure a safe, fun, and successful trip.
I had covered every angle. I was ready for anything. Or so I thought.
When the Best-Laid Plans Fall Apart
Minutes after setting up camp, the rain started. Almost immediately, water began leaking into our tent. No big deal, I thought—I brought a backup tarp. We covered the tent and moved on.
As the sun set and the temperatures dropped, I went to turn on the diesel heater. I hooked everything up, hit the power button... and nothing. Not a light, not a spark. We were without heat, forced to layer up and crawl into our sleeping bags.
After a rough night of waking up shivering, I walked over to the truck to let us warm up in the cab. I turned the key—dead quiet. Nothing happened.
Confident in my prep, I grabbed the jump-starter, hooked it to the truck battery, and turned the key again. Still nothing.
That was the moment the realization hit: OH SH*T. What am I going to do?*
We spent the day hiking up the mountain searching for elk, logging a grueling 10-hour trek. By the time we made it back to camp, it was actively snowing. The heater still didn’t work. The vehicle was completely dead. And as dusk settled, I began calculating how much cell phone battery we had left.
Every single contingency plan I had built had fallen apart. We were stuck on a mountain in the snow, miles from help.
The Illusion of Perfect Control
The next day, we stayed at camp, taking in the snow while I tried to figure out how we were going to get off that mountain. We finally decided to start walking down the half-mile trail leading to our campsite, hoping for an option to present itself.
Out of nowhere, we heard the rumble of an engine. Another hunter happened to drive down the trail at just the right moment and gave us a jump-start. Without his help, I’m not sure how that story would have ended.
Looking back on that trip, the takeaway wasn't just about dead batteries or cold nights. It was a vivid reminder of a truth we encounter every day in therapy: You can do everything right to prepare for the future, but life can still upend your plans in an instant.
We often move through life believing that if we just check enough boxes, buy the right tools, or plan far enough ahead, we can insulate ourselves from discomfort, uncertainty, and disruption. But when major shifts happen—whether it’s a career loss, a relationship shift, a health change, or an unexpected move—the tools we relied on yesterday don't always work for today's terrain.
Navigating Your Own Unexpected Shifts
Being stuck on a mountain feeling helpless is a lot like experiencing an overwhelming life pivot. When your internal "map" changes overnight, it’s completely normal to feel mentally exhausted, second-guess your next step, or freeze up under the weight of chronic stress.
In those moments, resilience isn't about having all the answers upfront. It’s about learning to:
Pause and Regroup: Acknowledge when the original plan is no longer working instead of forcing it.
Focus on What You Can Control: Take one step forward—even if it's just walking down the trail toward help.
Accept Support: Recognizing when you can’t navigate the terrain alone isn't failure; it's how you move forward safely.
If you are currently navigating an unexpected life shift, coping with career burnout, or adjusting to a season of heavy uncertainty, you don't have to figure it all out by yourself.
Whether you're looking for practical tools to calm chronic worry or seeking dedicated life transitions therapy to regain your footing, our team is here to help you navigate the mountain ahead with clarity and peace of mind.
