Resilience

We have all faced challenges in life at some point. What led us to overcome it? How did we accomplish it? How resilient are we to take on the challenges that we face? I believe that resilience plays a key role in our ability to face challenges. When we are resilient, our inner strength takes control as a taskmaster. Some may feel hopeless when faced with uncertainty, especially when the obstacles seem numerous and overwhelming. Your resilience helps you channel the strength you need to persevere and keep moving forward. We all need encouragement and a strong support system to help us boost our resilience within ourselves.  Honestly,  if we are not resilient, we will not be capable of achieving anything in life. Whether it be education, health, or even business, your resilience acts as your very own superhero, fighting for you. Resilience enables you to adapt to the circumstances you may face, encouraging you to fight back regardless of the adversity you encounter. It will undoubtedly be stressful and challenging, but with the right mindset, you can develop resilience. It helps to focus on present needs and work towards realistic goals for yourself. Overwhelming yourself tends to work against you, so why complicate it further? Just stay focused and engaged. Resilience will give you the ability to keep fighting despite setbacks, while perseverance will help you persist through your challenges without giving up.

“Life doesn’t get easier or more forgiving, we get stronger and more resilient.”

― Steve Maraboli

 “Persistence and resilience only come from having been given the chance to work through difficult problems.”

― Gever Tulley

“You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it.”

― Margaret Thatcher

“It’s your reaction to adversity, not adversity itself that determines how your life’s story will develop.”

― Dieter F. Uchtdorf

“No one escapes pain, fear, and suffering. Yet from pain can come wisdom, from fear can come courage, from suffering can come strength – if we have the virtue of resilience.”

― Eric Greitens

“Resilience is knowing that you are the only one that has the power and the responsibility to pick yourself up.”

― Mary Holloway

Resilience has three distinct aspects that make it a unique trait. First,  the ability to adapt and adjust to difficult circumstances and change. Second, it enables you to recover. Resilient individuals tend to recover faster. Finally, those individuals who are resilient learn and grow from their experiences by enhancing their overall well-being. Keep in mind, resilient individuals will still experience some levels of stress and anxiety; the difference is that they have developed much healthier coping mechanisms. This will enable them to work through those difficult phases much more easily than their counterparts. As we navigate life, our experiences will differ; it will take time and effort to hone our resilience skills. Your resilience is developed over time, and your behavior, your support system, and overall mindset play a key role in helping you get there. Your ability to manage life stressors will no doubt influence how resilient you become. Remember our behaviors determine how we develop healthy coping mechanisms. Our environment must be supportive of growth for our resilience to keep us engaged. A strong support system is beneficial for cultivating resilience. Your psychological well-being is vital; the more resilient you are, the more it will help you recover from hardships. Overall, your resilience helps you face life's unexpected challenges, by helping you become stronger.

"That which does not kill us makes us stronger.”

― Friedrich Nietzsche

"A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure despite overwhelming obstacles."

- Christopher Reeve

"The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new." 

- Socrates

"You are not what happened to you. You are what you choose to become."

 - Carl Jung

"The human capacity for burden is like bamboo – far more flexible than you'd ever believe at first glance." 

- Jodi Picoult

"Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success achieved." 

- Helen Keller

Reflection helps reassess your experiences and struggles, and along the journey, you realize how resilient you have become to the trials and tribulations of life. Resilient individuals are tested so many times, they are able to transform and enhance their growth by developing a stronger sense of self. I can attest to my personal journey of resilience, and how it has helped me become a stronger person. I may not have the physical strength,  although I do have the mental strength. I have endured so much over the years, and resilience has kept propelling me forward. I never expected to survive, especially after multi-organ failure and multiple strokes. Despite all I have endured, somehow with the support of my medical team, friends, and family, I have defied the odds all these years. I have learned firsthand to fight my battles physically and emotionally, and I gained the strength and will to persevere. It was resilience that kept me in the fight, and I gained the resistance needed to continue to fight my battles. I fight the fight, for I know my plight. It is important not to give up the fight, especially when you understand that you may have a difficult journey ahead. You might find yourself fighting many battles throughout your journey in life, finding your strength, discovering your determination, and channeling your resilience will help you have a fighting chance.

“Do not judge me by my success, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.”

― Nelson Mandela

 “I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.”

― Maya Angelou

“A good half of the art of living is resilience.”

― Alain de Botton

“On the other side of a storm is the strength that comes from having navigated through it. Raise your sail and begin.”

― Gregory S. Williams

“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”

― Confucius

“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.”

― Thomas Edison