4‑Minute Reset For When You’re Feeling Behind

This 4‑minute reset is for the specific ache of feeling “behind” in life – when your inner work, spirituality, or self-awareness feel years ahead of your money, career, or daily habits. It offers a short, grounded pause to calm your nervous system, soften self-judgment, and reconnect with a kinder story about your timing.​

You’ll be guided to notice your breath, hold together two truths (“something in me is already wise, something in me is learning to build”), and then choose one tiny, honest step in an area where you feel behind: work, finances, body, or routine. The aim is not to fix your whole life, but to leave you feeling a little more steady, less ashamed, and clear on one next action you can actually take today.

Image: Nicholas Fournie, Lake Moraine, 2025

Transcript

It is difficult to honor your wisdom when your material circumstances are unstable,

Especially in a world that values external success and undermines deep emotional care and work.

You've read,

Reflected,

Healed,

Maybe prayed or meditated for a long time,

And yet work,

Money,

Body,

Or routine still feel like they're lagging behind.

You thought that spiritual life would be the answer,

And yet something still doesn't feel quite right.

Tune into your body.

Let your shoulders soften a little.

Notice one breath moving in,

And notice it as it flows out without changing anything.

Nothing is wrong with you for having a rich inner world and an unfinished outer one.

This is not evidence that you're broken.

It's just a strange timing that your life has taken.

So as you breathe,

Try on a quiet phrase,

Aligning your inhale with something in me is already wise,

And silently saying on your exhale,

Something in me is learning to build.

And let it loop a few times at your own pace,

Inhaling,

Something in me is already wise,

And exhaling,

Something in me is learning to build.

Already wise,

Learning to build,

Both true at once.

So bring to mind one area where you feel behind right now,

Just one,

Not all.

Work,

Money,

The body,

Or your daily structure and discipline.

Not the whole story of your life,

Just this one small corner,

And ask gently to yourself,

What is one tiny,

Honest step a person like me could take in this area today?

Not the perfect step,

Not the final answer,

Just something your nervous system could actually say yes to.

Whether that be one email,

One application opened,

One 10 minute walk,

One bill addressed.

And feel that step in your body for a moment as if you were already halfway through doing it.

Notice any slight shift,

More breath,

More steadiness.

Even the smallest softening.

Then let these words land for a final time inside of you.

My inner work is real.

My tiny step also counts.

And when you're ready,

You can carry that one small step into the rest of your day,

And make sure you do it.

Letting your depth and your desire to build walk side by side.

You can have both,

You just have to believe that you deserve it.

I wish you the best day.

Your friend,

Nicholas