We’ve shared some incredible stories of resilience below that we hope will help you on your journey towards building up your resilience.
Brittney Luckett
My resilience came from my childhood and the morals and values instilled in me coming up. I think the older I get the more resilient I become. Even at this big age I’m with me learning who I am and I’m more aware of situations, how I react to things and I’m attentive to the behavior of those around me. Read More>>
Jashanna McQueen
My resilience comes from the Source, Higher Power, God. I did not know what I could do until I started releasing control and trusting God. I’ve experienced character-building, tribulations, and a bunch of loss. I can stand on two feet because of God’s love, grace, and mercy. My spiritual practices have shown me that I am resilient. As my faith grows, so does my resilience. I am taken through a lot of seasons where I am tested beyond measure but I am convinced that I can withstand anything. Read More>>
Christian “Nelson” Odinma
I think I get my resilience from knowing who I am and what I possess inside of me. There’s a belief that I have in myself that I’ve always had, from a young age. A belief of knowing I’m capable and equipped to be one of the very best at whatever I put my mind to. Every time Ive had a moment in my life where I fell short of meeting expectations, I used that lesson to be better equipped for another opportunity. I’ve even went so far as making amends with certain partnerships, in hopes that we could build a stronger relationship through admitting what could’ve been done better previously. Read More>>
Winston Harrell
My life has been a series of tragic events. I fell out of a 3rd story window when I was 22 years of age. I broke four ribs and had a series of contusions and lacerations and suffered a punctured lung and was paralyzed on one side. When I was 27 I was catering a party for a friend and on my way home fell asleep at the steering wheel and was in a three-car accident, Read More>>
Carrie Horn
When I was little, my parents got me involved in all kinds of extracurricular activities. I tried dancing, I played the violin, I sang, but what I most loved was playing sports. I remember being in third grade and going to soccer practice for the first time. I immediately got a soccer ball to the face while playing goalie. I was a bit shocked, but I also found myself ready to get back on the field to play more! I played basketball in high school and ran track and field in college. More than the lessons learned on the field, court and track, I was inspired by my teammates, coaches and mentors. Being an athlete taught me resilience, and also showed me the strategy behind selecting the right people and bringing out their best skills for the strongest team. Read More>>
Aesha Tahir
I have always had some natural resilience within me, but the majority of it has been developed through years of facing and overcoming challenging business hurdles. Taking risks and stepping out of my comfort zone has been a defining trait in my career. I am constantly on the lookout for new opportunities and challenges, never content with the status quo. While many may see obstacles, I see potential systems and strategies to tackle problems head-on. Read More>>
Jane Applegath
Resilience is the process and outcome of successfully adapting to difficult or challenging life experiences, especially through mental, and emotional flexibility. Because our innate humanness craves safety in familiarity, becoming resilient is something I’ve learned over the years. Read More>>
FRANKIE BELL
My resilience comes from deep within. I was born knowing how to be resilient and persevere through difficulties. However, as I grew, I learned through experiences that giving up is not an option. Every challenge I have faced has hardened my resolve and strengthened my determination. With each obstacle I overcome, I gain more confidence in succeeding against the odds. I did not choose the challenges put before me, but I chose how to respond. I could have become bitter or defeated, but instead I embraced the opportunities for growth within the struggles. Read More>>
Dawn Hunt
Hi. I’m Dawn, and I’m a control freak. I like things to go the way I want them, or the way I plan them. And since the universe has a twisted sense of humor, for me, nothing goes as planned.
Most people would not consider resilience to be learned skill, or something we choose. But I think, like everything, we have a choice. Read More>>
Irena Kukh
Ever since I was a child life thrown challenges at me. We had many tragic events in the family. My parents acted normal, so I never took to heart any death in the family, robbery, shooting, fighting, or unfortunate experiences like being lost in the woods, getting hospitalized from cat carried infection or being lockup in the 5 story building over night. Later when I grew up, I lost my mom, and I lost connection with my dad. And I was still okay. I learned to address any bad situation and always to find a message behind it. I would come out stronger, wiser, and fuller of life. My resilience is my power to achieve anything I wish in life. Read More>>
Taylor Victoria
From an early age, I found solace and joy in the realm of art. With each stroke of the brush and mark on the page, I discovered an escape, a refuge that allowed me to transcend difficult moments. My innate creativity became my sanctuary, providing me with the strength and resilience to face life’s challenges head-on. During my college years, when I found myself amidst a tumultuous period, I turned to drawing as a form of meditation. Little did I know that these drawings would mark the inception of my artistic career. Fueled by passion and determination, I ventured into the world of entrepreneurship, launching a business centered around my art prints, henna tattoos, and even a yoga line adorned with my original designs. Read More>>
Amanda James
My resilience came from not having an option to be weak. I grew up in a household with not alot of parental guidance, I was the only girl in the house with all boys, They showed me alot of love, but they weren’t easy on me which I appreciate. With their abrasiveness, it taught me how to stand up for myself, and how to be strong in alot of ways. With their love it taught me how I should be treated and not settle for less. Read More>>
Terry Hord and Tamara Kahn
Tamara and Terry were diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in her 20s when their lives were just starting. We were thriving young ladies, starting a family.
Our mother was diagnosed at the age of 33 with terminal cancer. We were only 13 years old.
We watched our beautiful mother go through multiple treatments through the years and be very weak and sick. We would wake up every morning and she would have a smile on her face and say “make it a great day.” and “I love you “ Read More>>
Michelle Vargo
Perseverance. We settled on the business in February of 2020. Two weeks later we we were told we would need to close for the first COVID lockdown. Very quickly we launched an online store and applied for PPP funding as well as grants through our city. It was very important through this period, to continue working with the same passion that we used to buy the business. From this experience we learned to keep going no matter the circumstance. Having an amazing customer base helped keep us passionate about serving them and running the store through a hard time. Read More>>
Chitra Divakaruni
It comes from being an immigrant. I belong to the generation of Indians who came to USA with $8 in our pockets–that was the maximum amount of foreign currency the Indian government would allow at that time. I knew I’d have to work hard to make enough money to go to graduate school. I worked at whatever job I could find, from babysitting, to being a salesgirl at the mall, to cleaning rooms at one of the university dorms, to washing instruments in a lab. Read More>>
Peggie Sherry
Resilience is defined as the capacity to withstand or to recover quickly from difficulties, toughness. All of us at one time or another face difficulties it could come in the form of bullying; death of a loved one; divorce; financial/work struggles, parenting issues; school stress; health challenges; or an endless number of other causes. What separates those who take to their bed, pull the covers over their eyes and those who get out of bed, put one foot in front of the other, face the challenge and move forward? Maybe it is perspective. Read More>>
Libby Belle Bryer
First, let’s define resilience: The process and outcome of successfully adapting to difficult or challenging life experiences-mental, emotional, behavioral flexibility. Well, that’s a mouthful, but in a nutshell, I was taught to love, to love deeply; to give, to give more than take; good is an action word; and of most importance, empathy. Whatever I have suffered and had to overcome, so many others have, too, and watching people overcome the worst life dishes out, is an amazing way to learn how to do it yourself. It’s simple, I opened my eyes. Read More>>
Devin Browne
Firstly, the adversities and challenges I have faced in life have instilled a lot of resilience in me. I have always been a believer in the concept of ‘what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger.’ Whenever I have faced failure or obstacles, I’ve taken it as an opportunity to grow, to learn something new, to adapt and to get stronger. Overcoming these challenges has significantly built up my resilience. Read More>>
Lindsay Benjamin
I think that this question has multiple layers. The resilience that I have built comes from the struggles I have had to endure throughout my life up to this point at least. You tend to build a layer of confidence and self esteem each time you go through a hardship, because you have an experience which tests you and could potentially make you uncomfortable. Your first instinct is to run away, but if you stay and let it in, you end up coming out the other side way stronger then you were before and taking in an entirely new set of skills. This helps you deal with any specific types of triggers you may have had in the past. Read More>>
Erica Griffin
I believe I get my resilience from past decisions I’ve made and the fact that I want to improve within me and the move for generational wealth for my family’s future of my family. Knowing that there is a better way of living, I keep moving by researching and pivoting toward success. I don’t really have the choice to quit, I’m not wired that way. Read More>>
Chef Percy P
My resilience come from the women in my family they are all so strong & keep me motivated because when I’m down they give me the motivation to continue to keep moving forward! I have had days when I wanted to not keep going because it was slow but my mom gives me those words of wisdom & they push me to greater heights! Then my grandmother Almetta has been sick & bed ridden since I was little but she always went to church & was always smiling & be so positive to be in her condition! Read More>>
Jasmine Sjöberg Sidibe
I believe I was born with a strong spirit. Since I was a little kid I remember I keept on going even when it was getting hard. Sometimes I get tired, then I rest. I believe that my belief that everything happens for a reason is where I get my resilence from. I am also good on listening to what my soul, mind and body needs. Read More>>
Milton Masciadri
I have always enjoy my career as professional musician as a performer and also a Professor at the University of Georgia. Although sometimes is overwhelming with work the pleasure of the performances has always move me forward Read More>>
LaTomya Doctor
From my late maternal grandmother, Annabelle Holmes. From a young girl, she taught me to “Step on can’t!” There is nothing in this world that I am unable to accomplish if I put my mind, heart, and dedication towards it. Obstacles are a part of life, and if we stop or give up every time something gets hard, success would not be possible. As a mom of three, I pride myself on being a role model to my children so they don’t have to look far for inspiration. If I can do it, then so can they! Read More>>
Dashawn Russell
I get my resilience from failing….sometimes in life everything is not always gonna work in your favor and there gonna be a point you fall flat on your face, but as long you get back up and keep going and don’t let nothing stop you….you will be alright. Read More>>
Monica Vilches
From life itself, separated parents, a slightly dysfunctional family although completely full of love, I have become a traveling woman, perhaps to find myself, and in each country you find new lives, new traditions, cultures, being a traveling involves getting used to living with new people, sleeping in different beds, roofs and lives completely different from your lifestyle… resilience is a wonderful internal power that we all have, sometimes we just need to embrace that power more, resilience It comes from my own essence, from my true self, from getting up 8 times if I have fallen 7 and getting up stronger, from my personal and spiritual growth, from finding the right people along the way, those who did me some harm. Read More>>
Kien Vuu
Resilience is not something we’re born with; it’s something we develop through life’s experiences. My resilience has been built from a string of challenges and obstacles that have spanned across my entire life. It began when I was an infant boat refugee, the sole survivor of my group – a stark encounter with the harsh realities of life at an age where most experience safety and comfort. Read More>>
Okoyé Stephens
Confidence in myself has wavered and waned throughout the years. My harshest critic has always been myself and before my spiritual awakening I was also my fiercest saboteur. I think for most people that struggle with themselves find that self doubt creeps into your mind and festers at your lowest moments. I am extremely blessed to have a host of family and friends that surround me with love and encouragement. Yet its still hard to see passed the rose colored glasses we were to make it day to day. Read More>>
Abigail Miller
My resilience draws upon a variety of experiences, including the challenges I encountered while navigating life’s uncertainties. As I reflect on my journey, it becomes evident that resilience has been a constant companion in my pursuit of personal growth and success. Read More>>
Hillary Gadsby
Resilience, for me, is more than just a characteristic – it’s practically an entrepreneurial birthmark. Navigating the unpredictable waves of business has exposed me to remarkable triumphs as well as significant setbacks. However, I’ve always reframed these so-called ‘failures’ not as dead ends, but as instructive detours on my path to success. It’s this perspective, a gift from my mother’s wisdom, that empowers me to ‘dust myself off and start over’ whenever I stumble. The ethos of resilience was sown into my mindset at a tender age by her, and it continues to be my guiding force. Read More>>
B. Pride
I’m from a small town in southeast Missouri with a population of about 500 people. I come from nothing. I was raised by my maternal grandmother, who is from a small unincorporated town in Mississippi. She taught me the basics and how to do for myself. I’ve also been through a few things in my lifetime that have allowed me to develop a callas in which ensures me that nothing can stop me. I will preservere. Read More>>
Ahyoka Yeshua El
According to the American Psychological Association, resilience means “the process and outcome of successfully adapting to difficult or challenging life experiences, especially through mental, emotional, and behavioral flexibility and adjustment to external and internal demands.” When I reflect upon this definition and my life, I have been cultivating resilience since I was young. From childhood sexual trauma at the age of 10, living through the Rodney King Riots in LA, at times not having enough for food, to working in an entrepreneurship environment over 20 years with all the highs, lows, pressure and stress, I have seen and experienced a lot that cultivated the resilience in me. Read More>>
Marcus “Ritmo” Figueroa
I believe my resilience comes from the experiences of all magnitudes life has thrown at me to date. When we’re presented with any situation for the first time it’s new and at times very hard to process and accept. In my opinion, it’s really how we handle and move forward with whatever position we may be in at the moment. Everytime something comes up, the older I become, I attempt my best to understand everything I possibly can about what I may be presented with before a response (if any) is required. Skipping this step can really taint an entire day. Having a great support system of your curation, utilizing your resources and taking time to register all you can about your current position are a few things that I personally practice in my everyday life to build my resilience and continue to grow. Read More>>
Erica Taylor Sanders
I believe being resilient is something my family has modeled for me since I was born. Over and over again I hear my parents’ stories and the hardships they endured throughout their lives. No matter what life threw at them, they kept going. That is where my resilience comes from. I have been through my share of hurt and difficulties but I have always believed that I had to keep going. I once heard TD Jakes say that “resilience is not a trait; it’s a process.” I could not agree with that more. I had to get to know myself enough to understand what process was necessary for me to foster the strength to keep going. Like every human, I had had days where I wanted to quit trying, especially when it seemed my efforts were not yielding the results I wanted. But I found some things and people that help me in those spaces and have learned to work the process to keep progressing. Read More>>
Yasmine Moment
I pray to release my worries, anxieties, and whatever is bothering me and if I just need to vent. THANK whoever your ( God ) is , don’t jus ASK,ASK,ASK it does say ask and you shall receive but you have to also be thankful !! Talk to them daily and throughout the day it starts to build your faith and trust and it helps increase the light of your spirit, do everything from THE HEART not just because you want something in return !! God always wants a “ cheerful giver “ not just to him but to others around us !! Read More>>
Jennifer Kloeppel
Honestly,I never believed that I had another option. As a child I believed deeply that there is so much good in the world even when things look terrible (I still do). As an adult, especially after I had kids it felt like less of an option. After spending years in a very damaging relationship where I spent a lot of time with a smile on my face so that no one knew what was going on, continuing to push through wasn’t an option. I never wanted anyone to worry about me and I always worried about the impact of how I would respond in the face of something hard that would affect other people. Read More>>
Sharhonda Bell
For me, this is a two-fold answer. It would have to be…My mom and Jesus. Growing up I’ve witnessed my mom encounter some of the toughest moments and overcome them all. And at this age and day in time, what’s been keeping me is knowing that Jesus had to overcome trials and temptations and defeated every journey. Read More>>
James Roan
My resilience comes from growth and experience. I’ve been through some very hard and difficult things in my life. Some being financially, mentally, romantically so on. All of these things made me strong, boosted my confidence to get through it and ultimately gave me tough skin. Most of my experiences came from the basic needs like, not having money for gas, not having a car at times, food to eat, and living in tough neighborhoods growing up. However, I did not let any of that stop by. I didn’t want to become a product of my environment or circumstances so choose the path to become different and work things the right way, earning everything I have in life. Now I believe there’s nothing I can’t do. Read More>>
Jenipher Chandley
As an artist, my resilience stems from the transformative power of delving into my art and reconnecting with my authentic self. Through the process of creating and exploring my subconscious, I am able to bring buried emotions to the surface, confront them, and heal. This continuous journey of self-discovery and healing fuels my addiction to know more and brings a sense of awakening. Knowing that my art will live on and provide clarity to the viewer adds to my resilience and drives me to continue this transformative process. Read More>>
Jennifer Schmidt
My resilience comes from my faith and how I was raised by my family. I was always taught that when you fall down, you dust yourself off and get right back up. At a young age, I started playing sports so that also taught to be competitive and learn that in order to succeed, you must fail. Read More>>
