Resilience Reflections

Today I would like to reflect on resilience. This is because it may spark something for someone reading this blog….  But more than that, it is a gentle reminder to myself, the importance and the power of inner strength. Resilience is basically our ability to keep going when things are tough… it is that small yet powerful thing inside ourselves that whispers to us, “I must keep trying, no matter what”.

Resilience and I go way back…. Back to the days of anorexia when all I wanted to do was give up, because of the constant internal distress… but I kept facing another day, and another, and another. Back to the days when I had no idea what was wrong with me…. When I was scared all the time. It is important to note here that a level of resilience can still co-exist with fear… being afraid doesn’t mean you are weak or lacking resilience. It simply means we are human. But we have a choice as to whether we live with the fear, and keep going, or simply give up. It takes tremendous strength to do the former… but I have become an expert at this.

I feel that I would not be here today, had I not built up a huge impenetrable wall of resilience inside myself, that allows me to greet challenges with confidence and even a sense of appreciation.

This wall is not a wall that keeps others out, it is simply a wall that creates a shield…. It creates armor. This armor is absolutely 100% necessary in order to live as a human being. Without it… life becomes too much, you become overwhelmed and simply crumble when being faced with anything that isn’t desirable.

One thing that helps me to keep going at times is the thought that, “hey… things could be worse… I have been through worse; and I have survived…. Therefore, I can survive this”

Also, finding that tiny spark of gratitude for what you have, can spark feelings of hope and can give you strength.

Just a little bit more insight into me…. I can go for days where I struggle… but nobody would ever know, because I just keep going. I just keep striving and looking forward, no matter how uncomfortable or undesirable circumstances are in my life. I keep going because I know that everything is temporary. There will soon be a day where everything is wonderful, and there will soon be a day of relief from the discomfort. I know this. And when you know that and have faith in that… it makes the unbearable, bearable.

If there is one thing I have learnt over the course of my life… it is that miraculous things can occur, as long as you keep trying. Life has a way of surprising us at times, when things just work out for the best. So, the very key thing here is…. hold on, pain ends. Hold on, because even one good day out of 10 bad days is worth the effort of holding on. That is what I constantly remind myself. No matter what I am going through at any given time, I know…. And I mean know… that it will be worth it in the end.

It will be worth it because life can present us with so many wonderful gifts…. If only we have the courage to believe that…. And the courage to keep going, always.

• Resilience is the reason I am alive, and that is not an exaggeration.
• Resilience is the reason I have been able to attract so many good things in my life, despite consistent challenges.
• Resilience is Key for recovery from a mental illness.
• Resilience is a learnt behavior.