The Next Needed Thing

In this post, Crystal draws inspiration from an unexpected source and explores how focusing on our moment-to-moment needs can help us navigate the challenges of chronic illness.

I’ve been reading The Small and the Mighty by Sharon McMahon, a wonderful book that shares the stories of “twelve unsung Americans who changed the course of history.” It might seem like that has nothing to do with what we talk about here, but at its heart, this book reflects the same truths we explore: the innate resilience and inner wisdom that lives in each of us, regardless of our circumstances.

One of the first stories in the book is about Virginia Randolph. She lived by a simple but powerful motto as she undertook the extraordinary task of improving education for Black students in the 1890s: just do the next needed thing.

This struck me because Virginia’s moment-to-moment approach to her seemingly insurmountable challenges is exactly what I recommend to those struggling with the overwhelm and uncertainty of chronic illness. When it all feels like too much, try focusing on what you need right now. Simply ask yourself, “what’s the next needed thing?”

There’s a caveat here, though. We often assume the next needed thing is new information, more advice, or a different plan of action—especially when we’re feeling scared or overwhelmed. But in the moments when we feel the most desperate for answers, the immediate need tends to be something far simpler:

• a breath

• a pause

• stillness

• silence

That’s because when we’re lost in thoughts of what might happen or frantically searching for a way out of our circumstances, our minds get very busy — and that’s the overwhelm we’re feeling. More thinking and more searching only leads to more overwhelm.

But when we let our mind quiet down and our thoughts settle — even a little bit — something tends to shift. In those quieter moments, we can hear our intuition and our common sense. The information we’ve collected becomes actionable. The next step becomes clear.

That’s why it feels so important to me to share what we do here at Living Well. Living well with health challenges isn’t about having all the answers all the time. Contrary to popular belief, that’s not what makes us feel better. It’s about seeing beyond the busyness of our thoughts and reconnecting with the wisdom, peace, and resilience that are always there.

So, if you’re feeling overwhelmed right now —whether from symptoms, uncertainty, or the pressure to figure it all out—remember that all that’s in front of you right now is this very moment, and all there is to do is the next needed thing — whether that’s an actionable item or simply a deep breath.