Imagine being underwater, with limited oxygen, entangled in fishing line, and next to an explosive device. It sounds like a nightmare, right? But somehow, you’re still able to stay optimistic. How could that be? Well, it turns out there’s a Navy SEAL who’s been in this exact situation, and he had some powerful advice to share. When you’re in a situation that seems impossible, the key is to focus on the next step—the one small thing that can make a difference, even if it’s just a little.

Now, let’s break this down. Picture yourself in that scenario—every breath you take is precious, and you’re tangled up, feeling the pressure from that ticking bomb. The natural reaction? Panic. But here’s the thing: panic is your enemy. Panic causes you to lose precious oxygen and floods your brain with stress hormones that block any chance of finding a way out. What this SEAL learned was to start with the tiniest of actions. If you can wiggle your fingers, move the line that’s wrapped around you even a fraction of an inch, or do one small thing to make the situation better—do it.

Then, once you’ve done that, find the next thing you can do. And the next. That’s how you untangle yourself and eventually defuse the bomb. You don’t have to solve the entire problem in one go—you just need to focus on the next small step. It’s about stacking up those tiny actions, one after the other, until you’re out of the danger zone.

Now, here’s the kicker: it’s only an emergency if you can’t find a solution. The moment you identify that first small step, you’ve already started to take control. You’re turning a situation that feels like a full-blown crisis into something manageable, something that you can actually work your way through.

Look, I’ve never been in that exact life-or-death scenario, but I’ve sure as heck been there in my own life, metaphorically speaking. There have been moments when I felt like I couldn’t breathe, like I was trapped in a situation with no way out, and that if I didn’t figure it all out right then and there, I was going to drown. I wasn’t entirely wrong—my life was on the line in more ways than one. But what I learned is that the situation wasn’t going to magically change unless I started wiggling my way out of it.

I had to assess what I had at my disposal, what strengths I possessed, and what was working in my favor. It wasn’t about finding some miraculous escape plan—it was about taking stock of what I could do, even if it was just one tiny thing.

So, let’s talk about you for a second. What’s weighing on your mind? Maybe you’re dealing with depression, received some upsetting health news, had your hours cut at work, or are feeling completely overwhelmed by parenting responsibilities. Whatever it is, I want you to stop and think about one thing—just one—that you have at your disposal that can help, even if it’s only a little bit.

Maybe it’s a supportive friend you can call, a technique you’ve learned in therapy, or just the simple act of taking a deep breath to center yourself. It doesn’t have to be a grand gesture. It’s about finding that small step, that little thing you can do right now to start shifting the situation.

Because here’s the truth: life isn’t about waiting for ideal circumstances. It’s about learning to focus on what you have and using that to find a solution that brings about change. Every tiny action you take is a step toward untangling yourself from whatever it is that’s holding you back. And before you know it, you’ve defused the bomb, you’re breathing easier, and you’ve turned what felt like an impossible situation into a victory.