Resilience Unpacked: A collaboration with Michael Unbroken from Think Unbroken, and Gill Tietz from Sober Powered
Resilience is often thought of as the ability to bounce back from adversity, to remain strong in the face of challenges, and to continue moving forward despite setbacks. It is a vital quality that can significantly impact our lives, providing us with the strength to overcome obstacles and the capacity for continual self-improvement.
The Seeds of Resilience
Resilience is not something we are born with; it is cultivated over time through experiences, guidance, and introspection. A profound example of this can be found in the values and lessons passed down from older generations. "You'd be happy for them. You're not allowed to covet what they have," is a sentiment instilled by a grandmother, serving as a foundational seed of resilience. These values, even when we try our best to ignore them, manage to grow and flourish within us, much like seeds breaking through concrete in a bustling city.
These nuggets of wisdom are essential to our growth and are present within all of us, waiting to be nurtured and brought to life. The speaker reflects on their desire to share these valuable seeds with others, emphasizing the importance of planting them for future generations.
The Power of Honesty and Self-Awareness
Embarking on a journey of resilience often requires us to confront our own shortcomings and face the truth about our lives. The speaker shares a pivotal moment in their life, marked by unhealthy habits and a stark realization in the mirror. Weighed down by the reality of their situation, they recalled a promise made to their eight-year-old self—a promise of a better life, free from the chaos and instability of their childhood.
This moment of brutal honesty and self-awareness became the catalyst for change, driving the speaker to ask themselves what they were willing to do to attain the life they desired. The answer was simple: "No excuses, just results." This powerful mantra underscores the essence of resilience, highlighting the importance of taking responsibility for our lives and making the necessary changes to move forward.
Making the Choice to Change
Resilience is rooted in the choices we make, and it is crucial to make these choices swiftly and decisively. Sharing a story from their early years as a therapist, the speaker reflects on a moment of clarity experienced by an older woman in residential addiction treatment. Her decision to change came not from a grand, catastrophic event, but from a simple, yet significant moment of realization.
The speaker urges us to recognize that resilience is not contingent on the severity of our struggles but on our willingness to confront them and make the necessary changes. It is about being the parent to ourselves that we always needed, guiding ourselves with respect and self-love.
The Role of Maturity and Self-Reflection
Resilience also demands a level of maturity and a willingness to acknowledge our role in the patterns and situations that unfold in our lives. The speaker encourages readers to embrace their immaturity as a starting point for growth, highlighting the empowering nature of taking responsibility for our actions and thoughts.
By opening ourselves up to self-reflection and acknowledging our contributions to our current state, we reclaim control over our lives, setting the stage for true resilience to take root.
Conclusion
Resilience is a journey of strength, self-discovery, and continual growth. It is cultivated through the wisdom passed down from previous generations, the brutal honesty we must face in the mirror, and the decisive choices we make to change our lives. It demands maturity, self-awareness, and a willingness to confront our own role in our life's patterns.
This conversation has underscored the transformative power of resilience, reminding us that it is within all of us, waiting to be nurtured and brought to life. As we move forward, let us carry these lessons with us, planting the seeds of resilience for ourselves and for future generations.