Core strength. Without it, the body is weak. Strong core muscles make climbing mountains, running races, swimming laps—heck, even everyday tasks—so much easier. But this week, I realized there’s another type of core strength that’s just as important: emotional core strength. And wow, do I need to exercise that more.

Here’s what happened.

Life was rolling along as usual when—BAM—my husband severely broke his arm. Just like that, my daily routine was upended. Overnight, I became a caregiver, a groundskeeper, a chauffeur… the list goes on. This was not in my plan for the month!

To make matters worse, my debut book was coming out. I had a book launch to organize and a million other things on my plate. I was completely overwhelmed.

That’s when I realized what I truly needed: emotional core strength.

I also needed a big dose of perspective. It wasn’t all about me. My husband was in pain—physically, emotionally, and financially. He was facing unexpected surgery, the uncertainty of when he could return to work, and the terrifying possibility of a permanent disability.

I needed to step up.  So, I adopted a new strategy:

• When I felt discouraged, I focused on ways to adapt.
• When I hit a hurdle, I looked for ways around it.
• When I got irritated, I reminded myself of my blessings.
• And when I made mistakes (and let’s face it, I’m not a natural caregiver), I tried to learn from them.

This week, I’ve been exercising my emotional core more than ever. It’s been tough, but I know it’s making me stronger.

Don’t forget to exercise your inner core, too. You never know when you’ll need it!

—Peni