On Decisions in Times of Distress: Don’t Ride the Broken Bicycle

Imagine trying to ride a bicycle with a broken chain or bent wheels. No matter how much effort you put in, it won’t take you where you need to go. You might wobble, fall, or end up more hurt than before. It’s clear that the bike needs repair first—rest, realignment, maybe even a full reset—before it can carry you forward again.

Our inner world works in much the same way.

When we’re going through grief, heartache, or emotional exhaustion, we’re not “broken,” but we are out of balance. And just like that bicycle, when something vital within us is misaligned—when we’re carrying the heavy weight of loss or chaos—it’s not the time to steer into life-changing choices.

Yet that’s often when we want to make decisions most—because we crave certainty, resolution, or escape from the pain. But decisions made in emotional turbulence often come from a place of reaction, not reflection. From fear rather than clarity. From urgency, not wisdom.

And those choices—however well-intended—can take us down paths we later wish we had avoided.

So the gentle reminder is this: Give yourself time to breathe before you decide. Rest before you respond. Wait until the wheels are steady again.

You’re not weak for pausing. You’re wise for recognizing that your internal compass needs recalibration. And true strength is knowing when to slow down.

Honor your healing. Honor your timing. And remember: when the bike is whole again, the road will still be there—waiting, with a new direction and steady ground beneath your feet.