About this quote

We often brace ourselves for massive, cinematic crises while completely falling apart over minor social obligations. Dealing with family drama or awkward holiday dinners often feels far more draining than managing a major crisis at work. It is easy to play the hero when the stakes are flashy and obvious. The real test of your resolve is how you handle the mundane, uncomfortable duties you would rather ignore. Will you show up when it is awkward and tedious, or do you only perform when there is an audience?

When to use it

• You are dreading Sunday lunch with your highly opinionated aunt, but you go anyway to keep the peace. You text this to your sibling to laugh off the anxiety before knocking on her door.
• After successfully resolving a major server crash, you realize your next task is telling your boss you lost his favorite coffee mug. You say this to a teammate to find some humor in the upcoming awkward talk.
• You survived a brutal chemistry exam, but now you have to ask your strict professor for an extension on a paper. You repeat this to yourself in the hallway to build up the nerve to knock on their door.