Tag Archives: #resilience

Spirituality

Problems? No Problems

Have you ever been around someone who constantly focuses on problems rather than solutions? They are energy draining. Every solution you offer is met with, “the problem with that is…” Ugh!

Life will throw some stuff at you. Difficult days are part of the mix but so are the days when everything goes right. Enjoy the easy days! Be grateful for them. But there’s a better way to view those times when life is most difficult than wishing they would pass. Instead, look forward to them. Let me explain.

When life is easy, we aren’t growing. Our strength and resilience are built in the fire. We see how strong we really are when we are being tested. I know many people who have gotten through very difficult situations. They are to be admired because they kept going through the darkness. Eventually, they found the light.

And speaking of the light in the darkness, it’s always there. It may be a pin dot of light, but it’s there. Keep your eyes on the light when darkness appears in your life. It gives you renewed strength, focus and hope. Stay focused…

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Spirituality

Do This First

Every day of our lives is filled with things we have to do. The list may be long or short, but it’s a constant. Here is some advice that will serve you well.

Do the hard things first. These are the items that might take the longest or even make you uncomfortable. Do them first. The rest of your day will feel like you’re almost coasting. But there’s more.

Taking on the challenges in your life will strengthen you and your resolve. Resilience builds. Confidence, too. Take your time to do things the right way. Hurrying through could cause you to miss something. Then you will need to fix it. That’s not necessary if you do it right.

If your habit has been to save the hardest task for later, you can reverse that. My encouragement to you is to start today. Then keep going…

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Spirituality

Weak or Strong

We have no idea what challenges life is going to present us with. The one thing we can count on is that sometimes life will knock us down. But while you might be down, you are never out unless you decide you are.

Resilience is built in the darkness, when we are tested. These are the times you find your inner strength to keep going. The strong will not only survive, their confidence and courage will grow exponentially.

There has been a disturbing trend I have observed. Kids sports don’t keep score, and every child gets a “Participation Trophy.” No child has to feel the pain of loss. This is setting kids up to crumble when the shit hits the fan later on because they haven’t learned resilience. It’s not surprising that mental health among our young is not a pretty picture. Wrapping children in bubble wrap has had consequences.

Strong minded people aren’t offended easily. They tend to have a big picture view of the world around them. They help others when needed.

Be strong, even when you feel unsure. You will get through whatever life has thrown your way if you refuse to accept defeat…

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Spirituality

Peak Performance

Some coaches goad their players by telling them “they want 110% effort.” This is ridiculous. We can only give 100%. Better coaches would encourage us to “leave everything on the field.” In other words, give it everything you have.

In order to be at your optimum, you must do the prep work. Eat right, rest, stimulate your mind and throw in some exercise on a regular basis. By doing these things consistently, you put yourself in position to succeed. This applies in sports as well as daily life. You won’t be your best if you are running on an empty tank.

Of course, sometimes things don’t go our way. When we are mentally right we adapt, we adjust. We realize today wasn’t our day, but we live to fight on.

Each day will present its own set of new challenges. Look forward to them. You must push yourself harder on some days than others. If you are operating at peak strength, you put the odds in your favor…

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Spirituality

Make or Break

Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in prison for opposing South Africa’s apartheid government. He was labeled as a domestic terrorist. In 1994, Mandela became South Africa’s first black president. In his autobiography, Mandela said “prison didn’t break him. Confinement strengthened his resolve.”

Life is going to throw some real shit our way. In those moments we have a choice. We can use them to grow us or they can destroy us. Resilience is built during the dark times, not when things are easy. We find our inner strength when we are tested.

All of life is an unknown. We think we know how each day will turn out, and most of the time we are right. Then something unexpected happens. When this happens I encourage you to face it. Face it until you make it. Ask for guidance from above and hold on to hope.

And remember, you have made it through every dark moment you have faced in the past. Keep going, no matter what…

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Spirituality

Strength Through Pain

Are you experiencing a difficult time in your life? If not now, the odds are that you will sometime in the future. I want to encourage you to flip the script on it when it happens.

Life can be very hard sometimes. God didn’t promise us an easy path. But He did give us a way through. Translation: rely more on God and less on ourselves during the dark times.

Resilience is built in the darkness. We learn that we can bounce back from the troughs of life. Our pain turns into strength. We might not like it at the time, but it can be used for good.

No matter how much social media wants us to believe that everyone has a perfect life, we know the truth. See pain as opportunity. Don’t dread it. Welcome it because better days are ahead…

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Spirituality

Curves

Farm-to-Market Road 1431 connects north Austin to a small town called Marble Falls. The drive is beautiful, filled with hills, curves and a lot of greenery. It’s hard to keep your eyes on the road because it’s so pretty.

Life itself has its own share of curves. Much of life can be routine, boring even, Then you have a curveball thrown at you. Something out of the ordinary disrupts your flow, sometimes causing great stress. We must be able to hit the curveballs, too.

My encouragement to you is to expect the unexpected. Don’t fear or dread the disruptions. Welcome them. See difficulties as opportunities to grow and learn.

Life on this side of eternity is going to have challenges. When you are going through a dark time, always remember that resilience is built in the hard times, not when things are easy. Just keep going no matter what happens…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Sensitivities

Life is tough. Some of the challenges people face can feel overwhelming at times. I know people who have been affected by cancer, the murder of a child, rape, incest, suicide and more. The reason they are still standing is because they developed resilience earlier in their lives. Weak people crumble like an origami.

Resilience can be built, even in adulthood. You face your challenges head on, refusing to back down until you have come out on the other side. When you are going through hell, you keep going.

Tough times don’t last, but tough people do…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

If I Had A Superpower

When I was a child, I loved Superman comic books. I thought, how cool it would be to fly, have x-ray vision, and to be faster than a speeding bullet. Let’s not forget that Superman was built like a bodybuilder and he got all the girls!

Humans don’t get to have superpowers, but if we did, I would want mine to be the ability to take away people’s pain. It troubles me when I see people struggle or in deep pain and despair.

Fortunately, I don’t have that superpower. Pain is a tool which can bring growth and resilience. If I could take away pain, I would be denying others the ability to grow through the pain and become who they are.

Pain is part of everyone’s life. Don’t waste it by wishing it away. By getting through it, fighting through it, you are being prepared for something greater.

Keep going…

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#inspiration

Lean In

Some of our greatest achievements were born in the darkest of times. If we press on and refuse to give up, we will emerge on the other side of the battle. It will not be easy, and it may feel like this period will never end, but your confidence and resilience will grow exponentially.

Lean into whatever makes you uncomfortable. Face the darkness in your life. Stare the devil down and let him know you serve a greater master. State your victory out loud and declare it in the name above all names- Jesus Christ. His name will make the demons shudder…

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