Acknowledging the hard thing & learning to be courageous

Recently I was looking at a bingo card I created in 2024 and was surprised that 2024 Dana had goals that 2025 Dana would continue to work on and fulfill this year. In case you’re not aware of this trend, at the beginning of each year I create a bingo card in lieu of New Years resolutions that incorporate some of my words of the year in addition to goals I have.

One square from my 2024 bingo card has come up repeatedly this year, which said “acknowledge the hard thing and do it anyway.”

For me this means that whatever the thing is (confronting a relationship issue, starting something new, etc.)

I acknowledge that while it’s hard to do that action, it may still need to be done in pursuit of healthy relationships and/or personal growth.

Doing it anyways

It means not letting fear or discomfort prevent me from doing the difficult thing that needs to be done. It also may mean feeling the weight of the challenge, facing the fear, taking accountability for my part, and showing up even though it may be hard.

Easier said than done!

This has been an invitation to assert myself more, be bolder and even courageous, learn to trust myself in new ways, and seek support in doing things that I know are really hard to do alone. Each time I choose to embrace difficulty, I build a little more capacity for assertiveness, resilience, and perseverance.

I think about where we’re at today in the United States and how this bingo card square is really relevant right now. We're at a time in this country where many of us are enraged, deeply upset, or feeling overwhelmed with what's happening. Sometimes it feels harder to continue to keep the pedal on the gas, especially when things feel heavy or hopeless.

“Good” trouble

But that's exactly what needs to be done when we are confronting ingrained and systemic injustice…to stay consistent in the fight and resist that injustice. To engage in what the late Congressman John Lewis said, “good trouble, necessary trouble” to achieve change. What sustains us is not doing it alone, but doing it collectively.

People pushed to societal margins are being (and have been) unjustly targeted throughout our nation. We have a duty to help and recognize people’s humanity and resist unjust systems and people part of those systems who dehumanize.

Whether it’s immigration, carceral, or education systems, the collective message needs to ring louder that people deserve better treatment and can belong in spite of country leadership saying otherwise.

Meaningful change requires sustained effort, integrity, and persistence, grounded in purpose and identity.

So as we enter these more reflective months, now is a great time to explore questions about purpose, your unique identities, and your role in contributing to societal change. In fact, this is something you can explore in the context of your own goals (whether they be on a bingo card or not).

My hope for you is that this self-reflection opens a new door of self-confidence and participation in collective action, especially when it comes to doing the hard things. ✨