Have you ever noticed how two people can face the exact same situation and tell two very different stories about it?

You get laid off.

One voice says, “Great. Just great. No job, no security, no idea what’s next.”
Another voice whispers, “Maybe this is the opening I needed… the chance to step into something bigger, more meaningful.”

You miss a flight.
One version is, “My whole day is ruined.”
Another version says, “Well… maybe I wasn’t meant to be on that plane. Maybe I’ll call a friend and catch up in the meantime.”

A relationship ends.
One side aches, “I failed.”
The other recognizes, “I grew. I learned. I now know myself better. Next!”

We’ve all lived both sides of these moments. We’ve all heard ourselves default to half-empty thinking or surprised ourselves with a burst of half-full optimism. Neither makes you good or bad but it’s what’s next that counts the most

Aha! ~ The glass is refillable.

That’s the paradigm shift.

When you realize the glass can be refilled, suddenly you’re not locked into whatever perspective you blurted out in the first five seconds of panic. You’re not chained to a reaction, a belief, or a pattern you’ve carried since childhood. You can pause… breathe… and pour something new into the moment.

And yes — let’s be real and compassionate. Some experiences knock the wind out of you. Losing a job, losing a relationship, or losing someone you love isn’t something you “positive-think” your way out of. Pain is real. Impact is real.

But even in the hardest moments, there’s still a place to pour gratitude, memory, meaning, or wisdom back into the glass.

When someone we love passes, the pain is sharp — but so is the privilege of having loved them. The years, the laughter, the trips, the inside jokes… that’s all part of the refill.

It doesn’t need to be 100% bright or 100% bleak. Life is rarely one or the other. What matters is knowing you always hold the ability — and the right — to shift the narrative.

Heading into the holidays, let’s soften our grip a little — more grace, less judgment. Trust that every moment is reshaping the path ahead, and the glass is always ready to be refilled.

I expect we’ll get a little sentimental in this week’s Human U conversation but will walk away filled with gratitude and holiday cheer. Join us!