Money worries, global crises, and an uncertain future- it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the chaos of modern life. But what if the way we respond to these challenges matters more than the challenges themselves? Piotr Skoczylas, founder of Stol Coffee, shares his journey of shifting perspective, finding connection, and embracing the power of presence, even when life feels uncertain.

I don’t have enough to pay the bills. Inflation is rising. Everything is going up. Have you seen the energy prices? And the government isn’t doing anything about it! I don’t make enough money! These are the thoughts that run through my head when I’m upset- upset about the digits in my bank account.

And honestly? It’s not unreasonable to be worried about money, especially when everywhere we turn we’re being told the world is on the verge of World War III, the government is unstable, AI and robots are taking over, and the cost of living is spiralling. Have you heard about the crisis? The global warming emergency? Wwrhraaa…!

There’s a lot to be worried about, right? Well, maybe there isn’t.

Hi, I’m Piotr. Since 2020, the start of the pandemic, I’ve been on a journey of self-entrepreneurship, connecting the dots where disconnection seems to exist. My little yellow coffee bike, Stol Coffee, led me to discover myself as a coach, helping people move from chaotic overwhelm to peace, clarity, and freedom in life. Speaking of life circumstances — this February and March, I experienced very low sales in my coffee business. And let me tell you, that’s not nice. Being the sole provider for my family, seeing sales drop hit hard. I felt everything- fear, frustration, anger- all stemming from the worry that I wouldn’t be able to pay the bills. But here’s what I realised: it wasn’t just about the circumstances- it was about how I reacted to them.

I’d come home from work angry, snapping at my kids and my partner- even though they’d done nothing wrong. Even if they had, why would I take it out on them? They’re my family, the people closest to me. But there I was, letting a few numbers on a screen dictate how I treated them.

I saw how this was isolating me and making me lonelier. My worries, my fears- yes, they were valid, this is the human experience. But I was carrying them with me all the time.

So I asked myself: what if I didn’t? What if I designated time in my day to worry, to do as much work as possible on my business, and then closed the book? What if I went home and played games with my kids, fully present and at peace? Wouldn’t that be nice? Well, it is possible. Once I separated circumstances from stories, I was able to think clearly and take action.

The circumstance? Business is down.

The story? “If I don’t do something now, I won’t be able to pay the bills.”

See the difference? The business slowing down doesn’t automatically mean I’ll be broke in two weeks. I’m not a fortune teller- I don’t know exactly what’s going to happen. The only thing I know is what I have right now.

And once I put those stories aside, I could connect with myself again. And the ideas started flowing. This is how I came up with Friendship Hubs. This is why I connected to Anytime Fitness in Penarth, joined the HUB and the community, met John from Penarth View, and why you’re reading these words now. I created connections.

I created an idea. And I want to share this idea with you- because being trapped in stories about our circumstances is painful. I’m grateful to John and Penarth View for giving me the space to share this. I love this community and I’m honoured to be a part of it.

So, if everything starts with an idea, here’s my invitation to you: whatever you’re going through, put the story down. Be with circumstances. Be with the feelings around them. Acknowledge them, but set the story aside and just be with what is.

For me, this has created a sense of peace and confidence that lets me keep showing up in my business, in my relationships- and right here, in this magazine. This is a helpful and, also can be, a challenging mindset to apply when you’re in life- threatening circumstances that require immediate action or help. I understand those words will not apply absolutely everywhere but…I hope this is helpful. And if you want to talk about it, reach out- not necessarily to me, but to someone you trust, someone who will listen.

It’s hard to make sense of reality sometimes because the stories we tell ourselves are powerful. But don’t have to suffer alone. Getting another point of view can make all the difference. This is…Penarth View, and we’re all in it together.

Lost Circles offers a supportive spaces to have those tough conversations. I run these sessions at Rest Space on Cornerswell Road every first Monday of the month at 6pm. They’re completely free, and you just need to book in advance as spaces are limited to 10 people. Feel free to reach out and book your spot! For more information or to reserve a space, you can contact me at 07477 114 009, hello@createwhatmatters.co.uk, or Instagram.