Imagine you’re walking through a wide, open field. As you move forward, you come to a fork in the path. To the left is a trail that’s worn deep into the ground. The wheat has been trampled flat. The dirt is carved out. It’s obvious that countless people have walked this way before—and it would take almost no effort to keep following it. To the right is a new path. Barely visible. Only a thin line of bent grass, like two or three people have walked it once and never returned.

Visualize a mountain — tall, rugged, and unrelenting. You’re standing at the base of it, staring up at its jagged peaks. It feels impossible to climb. That’s what stress can feel like. Whether it’s life’s challenges, health struggles, or emotional burdens, your mountain may seem insurmountable. But here’s the truth: you don’t have to scale it all at once. The key to conquering your mountain of stress is simple — focus on the next right step.  One step at a time, the climb bec