That Moment Before You Act

Welcome to The Brighter Side of Everything.

This newsletter serves a simple purpose → To help you build optimism, resilience and a solution-focused perspective.

Each week, I’ll share actionable insights that not only brighten your day but position you to be a leader within your own life and seize life’s opportunities.

Read time: 15-20 minutes.

Hello, Brighter Side readers! ☀️

Ever get that jittery feeling right before you try something new?

Same here.

This week we focus on those moments just outside your comfort zone.

Plus some fresh wisdom from a celebrated Olympic coach, a look at John Candy’s everyday kindness and on how embracing messiness (instead of perfection) helps you move forward.

Hope you find something useful and maybe a reason to laugh along the way.

Have a great week!

See you on the Brighter Side,

Chris

P.S. Please feel free to send me feedback on how I can improve. I respond to every email.

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You know those moments?

Like right before you make an important call or just as you’re about to try something new?

When your heart rate spikes and you wonder if you’re actually ready?

That slight sense of worry is something most of us should recognise.

It’s the moment an opportunity for growth introduces itself.

It’s a concept I’ve been fascinated by for years.

Along the way, I’ve learned to appreciate it because it’s just my system’s way of telling me I’m in new or uncertain territory.

There’s no danger.

Only the opportunity to try something, succeed or fail and learn from the experience.

That’s it.

I’ve come to see my thoughts for what they are, just thoughts.

Not cold hard facts.

I let them help me navigate, but I never let them take the wheel.

If you hand them the keys, you’ll never get anywhere worth going.

On Mondays, I love going on long walks.

Sometimes I listen to podcasts but more often I just allow my mind to wander as I wander.

On a recent walk, I found myself listening to the Growth Mindset Psychology podcast and it triggered a stark reminder of the concept above.

It made me realise how grateful I am to have overcome this challenge early in life.

This week, I’m sharing in the hope that you can too.

If you haven’t already.

The host, Sam, was interviewing legendary British Olympic coach Frank Dick OBE.

Their short conversation was loaded with wisdom, I think you’ll see why.​​

Frank likes to describe what happens when we reach out for something bigger as “the risk of winning.”

It’s that edge-of-your-seat feeling, where you’re taking steps into unfamiliar territory and letting yourself be seen doing it.

He says mistakes are a postive sign you’re reaching for something that matters.

I couldn’t agree more.

If you never hit a bump, you might not be stretching enough.

He’s observed that some people trust their ability to influence the future and put themselves in the game.

While others feel like everything’s locked in and the best they can do is stay afloat.

The difference shows up in how you deal with being knocked down.​​

Frank once told his daughters something very simple but powerful.

“Falling off your bike doesn’t mean you’ve failed.”

It’s getting back up (wobbly or not) and pedaling that counts.

All those moments where we miss the mark or trip over our own plans are invitations to learn.

Not a final verdict.

It’s a pretty useful lesson, especially if you’re forever finding new ways to test your own limits.​

He confidently outlines the Four Rs:

Your success deserves just as much reflection as setbacks.

If you don’t know why things went well?

You risk leaving your best work to luck.​

Here’s the analogy that really got me.

Think back to when you were a kid at school.

During playground games, no one’s waiting for a ref to tell them what’s fair.

Kids call their own fouls and make the rules stick.

Flip the script though and when there’s an official standing by?

It’s much easier to start thinking, “If the umpire doesn’t notice, maybe it doesn’t matter.”

Frank’s point is that relying on someone else to enforce the rules, outsources your integrity.

In adult life, waiting for permission or validation can do the same thing.

He suggests carrying your own standards.

Because nobody else can do that for you.​​

He once worked with a young athlete who made a tough decision and later regretted it.

The real line though, Frank said, wasn’t crossed by the action.

But by the moment the decision to do so felt okay personally.

That resonated with me.

It’s the private choices.

The ones we make inside our own heads.

That show who we really are.​​

Having clarity about your values (and a steady hand emotionally) can guide you through high-pressure moments.

The more our actions fit the standards we've set?

The less we need anyone else’s whistle or warning.

Each week, writing this newsletter means stepping into the unknown.

Again and again.

I started The Brighter Side of Everything as a personal challenge to put my thoughts out there without waiting for some mythical “perfect” draft.

I grew tired of the endless stream of sensationalist, context lacking, assumption driven, click-bait content that floods our feeds.

I want to learn, grow and postively influence as many other humans as I can.

The truth?

When I look back at my early editions, I cringe.

But that feeling is proof that I’m growing right alongside you.

I know I’m not the best writer.

But I have the thoughts and experiences inside me that are worth sharing.

And, I’m night and day better than I was two years ago.

What I love about Frank’s Four Rs is that it gives shape to a cycle I’ve followed for years:

Try, fail, iterate, try again - rinse and repeat.

Some weeks I think, “Great, this one’s solid.”

Other times I hit publish and immediately spot things I’d change.

But pressing send on imperfect work and hearing back from you has shown me that real progress happens out in the open.

Not from hiding or endlessly waiting for confidence to arrive.

That little bit of discomfort, each time I share?

Is proof that I’m moving forward.

If you feel it at times too, you’re not stuck.

You’re growing.

Frank always keeps things simple and clear, making them easy to absorb.

Here are some lessons I took from the episode, ideas that turn philosophy into simple daily tools:

There’s a sense of inner pride that comes from choosing your standards and sticking to them.

Especially when nobody else is checking.

Progress shows up one decision at a time.

Often in a messy, winding way.

I see it every time I sit down to write this newsletter, and in every story Frank shared with Sam during that episode.

Growth (inner progress) asks us for two things: reflection and resilience.

In the end our actions define us, but the choices we make before the spotlight ever comes on?

Those shape the contours of our character.

If you’re wobbling, uncertain, or in the middle of learning something new.

You’re exactly where you need to be.

The only trouble arrives when we choose to stay on the sidelines after a fall.

So, as always, I’ll be back on the bike next week.

Here’s hoping you’ll take a calculated risk or two yourself.

When that moment before you act arrives?

Embrace it with courage and curiosity.

It's in those moments of uncertainty that we discover what we are capable of and grow beyond our self perceived limits.

Remember, every step forward, no matter how small, is a victory in itself.

And, when you do, let me know how it goes.

If you’d like to listen to the episode yourself, you can here (it’s 20 minutes well spent):

At first glance, Eckhart Tolle’s life seems understated.

He was a young man wandering London’s parks, captivated by the miracle of existence.

But step a little closer and you’ll find a story of courage, profound transformation and a ripple effect that has reached lives and communities across continents.​

Born Ulrich Leonard Tölle in postwar Germany, Tolle’s childhood was shadowed by family conflict and the emotional weight of a nation rebuilding.

He moved to Spain at age 13 to live with his father, a childhood shaped by books and solitary reflection.

Later, he moved to London, studying at the University of London and starting graduate research at Cambridge.

Despite this outward progress, Tolle’s internal world remained turbulent.

Frequent lows and relentless anxiety pressed him toward searching for deeper truth.​

One night at age 29, an internal crisis became the start of something new.

Tolle remembers, “I couldn’t live with myself any longer.”

In that moment, his grip on identity loosened.

His thoughts stilled.

He describes what remained as a peaceful awareness.

A sense of simply being free from the burden of mental conflict.

He lived in this state for nearly two years, sometimes homeless, sometimes simply still.

As his friends and family worried about his mental state.

But his core struggle, the war with his thoughts, had lifted.​

Slowly, Tolle began sharing what he’d realised with others.

By the late 1990s, encouraged by friends and students, he published “The Power of Now.”

Word-of-mouth and small gatherings quickly grew into international recognition when Oprah Winfrey described it as one of her most life-changing reads.

Kim Eng, his partner and collaborator, became central to spreading mindfulness through workshops and online courses, showing how spiritual presence can be developed in relationships and daily life.​​

Tolle’s presence has influenced people across the entire globe.

With the Eckhart Tolle Foundation collecting impact stories from those who have rebuilt their lives after addiction, illness and loss.

One teacher describes how simple practices (pausing, breathing, noticing) brought quiet strength into her classroom.

Another reader shared that, after a devastating house fire, the idea of letting go and embracing the “now” helped her recover more than advice from any insurance adjuster or financial planner.​

These concepts are more commonly accepted today but in the 1990’s they were often met with skepticism and resistance.

Societal norms and scientific understanding have made huge strides in the last 30 years.

Personally, I remember picking up “The Power of Now” while studying Behavioural Science at University in Melbourne and feeling its message land powerfully.

As someone who tends to inhabit the present, even when it defies logic or norm, I was struck by how often our culture overlooks what is right in front of us.

Tolle's words resonated as encouragement to keep returning to the realness of each moment.

Rather than seeking clarity and peace somewhere out of reach or via my next accomplishment.

Tolle is well-known for his influence on the modern mindfulness movement, affecting mental health, education and communities looking for spiritual depth beyond traditional religion.

Some people doubt how quickly he became enlightened or warn against turning spirituality into a business.

Despite this, many find his teachings both helpful and inspiring, especially during difficult times.

Eckhart Tolle’s story is quietly extraordinary.

A life transformed by presence and a message that continues to bring relief and awakening to millions.

His invitation is simple and always available.

To pause, breathe and connect with what actually is.

What keeps striking me, years after first reading his book, is the gentle reminder that real life unfolds in this moment.

It’s messy, shimmering and alive.

Waiting patiently for us to notice.

How might your experience shift this week if you choose to meet each day, each conversation, and even each challenge with that kind of presence?

Want to hear from Eckhart Tolle himself? Check out his YouTube channel: Eckhart Tolle

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I Like Me leads with scenes that feel as real as any everyday encounter.

John Candy chatting with a crew member during a late-night set change, catching the eye of a local in a Toronto shop, or quietly boosting morale when exhaustion sets in.

Right away, you see why his reputation for kindness wasn’t just talk.

It played out moment by moment, for all to see.

The film starts on a quieter note.

The first 10 minutes are a slow build as it establishes who John Candy was, but it soon finds its rhythm and digs deep into his world.

With direction by Colin Hanks and production from Ryan Reynolds, plus stories from comedy legends like Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, and Catherine O’Hara.

You get plenty of insight from those who really knew him.

The addition of never-before-seen archival footage and candid interviews makes it feel fresh, even for longtime Candy fans.

As a documentary it doesn’t bother with myth-making.

Instead, it puts Candy’s steady decency front and centre, letting those who knew him reflect on the difference he made.

As someone who grew up in Australia watching Candy’s movies, I found my early memories blending with a new appreciation.

Especially now, watching from Toronto and recognising the city that meant so much to him.

There’s no dramatic arc or hero’s journey here.

What lifts I Like Me is its honest and detailed attention to the work of being considerate.

Candy’s colleagues and family recall how he moved from set to set.

Always checking in, making space for others, talking to everyone equally, not just the stars.

Catherine O’Hara describes how he “always made sure people felt important, no matter who they were or what their job was on set.”

Steve Martin’s tribute: “John’s heart was as big as Canada. He lifted you up just by being there,” adds further foundation to what you see and hear.

The cities rinks and streets acts as both anchor and backdrop, grounding Candy’s work ethic and kindness in a sense of place he never shrugged off.

The documentary brings a steady focus to how Candy made inclusion and encouragement into habits.

There’s no fanfare, just story after story of a man keeping an eye out for those who might have otherwise been overlooked or left behind.

Watching him put a hand on a nervous stand-in’s shoulder, or patiently pep up a co-star between takes, you get a sense of how ordinary decency has a ripple effect.

Yet director Hanks doesn’t ignore the flipside.

Always being “the lifter” takes real energy.

Candy sometimes paid a price for being everyone’s rock.

Dealing with exhaustion and, at times, his own doubts and sadness.

This documentary landed differently for me.

Growing up in the 80s in Australia, John Candy was part of my backdrop.

His movies provided comfort and laughter, often resulting in multiple viewings.

Now, having watched I Like Me as a Toronto local, I not only better understand his connection to the city but also see the cost (and courage required) in how Candy lived.

He spent years being treated as an outsider and, remarkably, responded by lifting others.

His story is a clear signal that we’re still figuring out how to treat those who are different, and that respect and inclusion can’t be taken for granted.

The film asks us not just to admire kindness, but to practice it.

And, maybe even more importantly, to realise that those we rely on for encouragement sometimes need support themselves.

Lifting people up helps everyone, including the person doing the lifting.

Disrespect never leads to anything good.

Ever, so why is it so common?

Encouragement just makes the world easier to live in.

Candy’s legacy, built from small moments and common decency, is proof that you don’t need a big audience to make an impact.

I Like Me is for anyone who’s leaned on quiet kindness or anyone who’s felt the weight of always being everyone else’s boost.

It’s a documentary of the life, career and loss of one of the most beloved actors of all time.

Told by those who knew him best, in their own words.

It also provides a gentle challenge for others to do better.

It’s easy to admire the famous, but it’s vital to value the everyday lifters, too.

This film is a reminder to look for them, help share their load and let your own legacy be built one generous, real moment at a time.

You can watch the trailer here:

Please share; I'm always keen for great suggestions.

In tough times, the old advice to “just stay positive” generally falls short.

It might make you feel like you’re helping but the truth is far from it.

Real resilience isn’t built on brushing pain under the rug or faking a constant sunny outlook.

Instead, it comes from acknowledging what’s hard and feeling truly supported by those around us.

The most important thing?

Knowing someone’s got your back.

Especially when life feels heavy.

Here’s why honest support matters so much in hard times.

There’s a big difference between toxic positivity and genuine care.

Imagine noticing a friend struggling, maybe they’re quiet, tired or just a little off.

Instead of immediately launching into encouragement (or advice), you simply ask how they’re doing and actually listen.

No quick fixes, no glossing over the tough parts.

Just showing up, steadily, in whatever way they need.

Being heard makes all the difference.

People in pain don’t need cheerfulness on repeat.

They need understanding, connection and the space to be real.

Real strength shows up when we honour all emotions and stick together, ready to walk beside each other through ups and downs.

Here are a few gentle ways to offer, or ask for, real support:

Looking back, I remember feeling strongest when someone just showed up for me.

No pep talks, no pressure, just steady presence and kindness.

I try to offer the same to others and it’s made all the difference.

If you notice someone carrying a heavy load, often your presence and really listening will say more than any pep talk could.

Try it this week.

Reach out, check in, or simply listen more actively.

You might be surprised how much lighter it makes life for both of you.

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