When My Bag Stayed in Lisbon (and Why I Chose Peace Over Panic)
Back in April, I traveled overseas for the first time, 10 days in Portugal to rest, recharge, and breathe.
It was everything I needed. Until I landed back in the U.S. and realized my bag decided to extend its vacation without me.
Old me? I would’ve spiraled.
New me? I took a breath and reminded myself: control the controllables, release the rest.
It would’ve been easy to panic, but this time, I chose peace over panic.
The Bigger Lesson Behind Lost Luggage
At first, it felt like just a travel headache. But standing there in baggage claim, I realized this was bigger than lost luggage. It was a reminder of the practice I’ve been building: choosing peace over panic, perspective over perfection.
Because here’s the truth: change is constant. In life. In leadership. In business. And if we grip tightly to everything, we burn out fast.
Why This Matters for High Achievers
Think about the last time things didn’t go according to plan:
A deal fell through.
A project got delayed.
A team member dropped the ball.
Our instinct is often to clamp down harder, control more details, or shoulder more of the weight ourselves. Hustle culture trains us to believe that if things are falling apart, we just need to push harder.
But resilience doesn’t come from gripping tighter. It comes from knowing the difference between what’s yours to carry and what’s not.
When we choose peace over panic in the small things, we strengthen the muscle to handle the bigger challenges with more clarity and ease.
Building the Muscle of Release
The good news? This isn’t just a leadership strategy, it’s a life practice. And like any muscle, it gets stronger the more you use it.
Start small:
A delayed bag.
A traffic jam.
A meeting that runs over.
Someone cuts in front of you at the grocery store checkout line.
Each time you choose peace over panic, you’re training your nervous system for bigger moments. So when life hands you something that really matters, a career transition, a major setback, a personal loss, a health scare, you’re already grounded.
That’s resilience. That’s leadership. That’s
And that’s what building a life that feels as good as it looks is really about. Not perfection, but peace.
A Simple 3-Step Framework
Here’s a tool I use to practice releasing what I can’t control:
Pause — Before reacting, take a breath. Give your nervous system a moment to settle.
Perspective — Ask: Is this within my control or outside of it?
Peace — If it’s outside your control, release it. Redirect your energy toward what is within your influence.
It sounds simple, but practicing this daily rewires how you handle stress, uncertainty, and leadership challenges.
Over to You
Where in your life are you gripping too tightly? What would it look like to choose peace over panic?
Want to Go Deeper?
If you’re ready to pause, reflect, and start rewriting your definition of success on your own terms:
Download a free chapter of my book, Success Starts Within, and learn how to reclaim your energy and create success that actually feels good: Click here to download
P.S. Ready to explore how I can help your team reduce burnout? Click here to learn more
Chazz Scott | Resilience & Sustainable Performance Expert | Founder, Supra Mentem Consulting | Author of Success Starts Within
Creator of the Rise & Reclaim Blueprint™ – Helping professionals and teams break free from burnout, boost retention, and build success that actually feels good.
