I had a client recently who described himself as just a “Joe Schmoe” stuck at home, facing a never-ending list of problems that life has piled on him. Sound familiar?

Yeah, I thought so.

I totally get it. I’m a mom to a thirteen-year-old whose school has been, let’s just say, less than stellar in the whole education department the last few years (which means I’ve basically become his part-time teacher). On top of that, I’m running two successful businesses, working on my manuscript and going to school full time while trying to keep up with my humanitarian work and not lose my sanity. Not too shabby for someone who was once told by mental health professionals that I’d never have a functional or happy life, right?

But let’s be real—you’re probably still stuck on that part where I mentioned keeping my sanity, aren’t you?

Well, let me let you in on a little secret.

You have a choice in how you see yourself and your situation. You can label yourself like my client did—a Joe (or Jane) Schmoe, buried under a mountain of stress, eating Hot Pockets for dinner, and binge-watching TV while feeling sorry for yourself. Every friggin’ night. Or, you can flip the script and see yourself as the hero of your own story, navigating the challenges of life like it’s some epic adventure, where every errand, task, and obstacle is just a part of the journey to victory.

Sounds a bit silly? Sure it does! But honestly, we could all use a little less seriousness in our lives, and besides—it works!

Here’s how you do it:

Start thinking of the items on your to-do list as dungeons you need to conquer. The laundry mountain? That’s the Dragon’s Lair. The endless emails? The Goblin’s Cave. You get the picture.

Every new skill you pick up, whether it’s learning to cook a new recipe or mastering that tricky Excel formula, is like gaining a health or power-up in your game. You’re leveling up, baby!

And those people in your life—your kids, your partner, your coworkers—they’re the quirky townsfolk you meet along the way with their sometimes baffling instructions and endless demands (you know, like “meet the old man at the waterfall” kind of cryptic).

That show you watch to unwind, the book you read to your kids, or that rush of feel-good vibes after a workout? Those are the treasures you’re collecting along the way. And let me tell you, these rewards are priceless.

Imagine how dull your favorite video game would be if all you had to do was walk in, toss the princess over your shoulder, and call it a day. No challenges, no puzzles, no bosses to defeat. Boring, right? Nobody would play it!

Life’s the same way. If you never face obstacles, if you never have to solve the tricky puzzles life throws at you, you’d never grow, never learn, and you’d never feel the deep, soul-satisfying happiness that comes from overcoming something hard.

So the next time you’re feeling overwhelmed by that endless to-do list or like life’s just too much, remember that you’re the hero in this story. You’re the one who’s going to face those challenges head-on, learn from them, and come out stronger and happier on the other side.

Now go out there and slay some dragons!