We’ve shared some incredible stories of resilience below that we hope will help you on your journey towards building up your resilience.
Josha Cunningham
My resilence comes from being the black sheep, the one who always had to carve my own path. After being knocked down over and over again, I learned to rely on myself – no safety net, no back up.
I became my own source of strength, finding creative solutions and going deep within myself to rise above whatever stood in my way”
I adapted thrive because giving up is not an option. I learned to become a swiss army knife in supernatural circumstances – versatile, resourceful, and unbreakable in the face of adversity. Read more>>
Cole Trainor
Like a lot of aspects of life, my resilience doesn’t come from one source. My resilience has been something that I have been building up for a long time and, whatever I can conjure, I make sure to make the best of it. My main sources of strength come from my family, friends and mentors who have taught me throughout my life. Watching my parent’s has inspired me to be better and keep moving forward. The skills of my mentors and friends has inspired me to take up skills that I have not thought of doing. The stories of other’s challenges have made me realize any obstacle can be overcome with perseverance. Read more>>
Sofia Grille
Becoming a professional dancer in Chile comes with its own set of challenges. Resources for the arts can be limited, and pursuing dance often means going against societal expectations of a “stable” career. Financial constraints and limited access to advanced training opportunities were obstacles I had to navigate early on.
Resilience became my most valuable skill. I had to create opportunities where they didn’t exist. I worked tirelessly to fund my training, often juggling multiple jobs to afford lessons, and travel expenses. When advanced training wasn’t accessible locally, I sought out opportunities abroad—saving every penny to attend workshops and masterclasses in other countries. Each journey expanded my perspective and deepened my understanding of dance as a global language. Read more>>
Myra Brodsky
I’ve been in the tattoo business for 18 years now. I started tattooing early and quickly realized my ambitions.
Even back then, while experimenting in my shared apartment, I thought to myself: “Wow, you’re really good at this!”
The first setbacks came when I started working in studios.
You see, I was one of those kids everyone hates—the ones who get everything handed to them.
I came from a sheltered upbringing straight into the wild capital of Berlin, where the tattoo scene was dominated by some pretty tough characters. Read more>>
Gary Matheny
I don’t believe in no. I have always said that when you come to a door, simply close your eyes and walk in. Once inside you have to do something, so make it count. Persistence is a way of life, you can’t be afraid to go after something you want. When I first began writing I had no idea what my music might do, but I entered contests and pursued others in the business to get my name and works out. It has taken time but I am now seeing the benefits of my persistence and drive. Read more>>
Nyah Zo
My resilience lies in my strength, and my strength comes from God. I’m able to see that each failure is a learning opportunity and a quicker way to get to my yes. My vision and my passion drive me. Knowing that I have a gift from God, I hold the power to change not only my life, but my family’s life, and my friends and younger generations to come. One of my goals is to ensure whatever I create outlives me and leaves and impact so large on the world that people change their way of thinking and living for the better I’m not saying I know it all but what I do know is love, peace, joy, and freedom, and I plan to express that along with growth in my journey as a musician… a creative. Read more>>
I Min Lin
I was born in the United States but returned to Taiwan at a very young age to grow up. My parents divorced when I was in elementary school, and my mother has always been the best example of resilience for me.
My mother worked in the same job for over 20 years. This job required her to work year-round, without any days off, handwashing dishes and clothes for wealthy families every single day. Despite the hardships, she persisted for over two decades until she retired a few years ago. I often asked her how she managed to stick to the same job for so many years. She told me that she didn’t dislike the work and believed in seeing things through to the end. To her, perseverance is far more important than constantly switching to something new. Read more>>
Cara Lindsay
Resilience, for me, stems from a lifetime of navigating profound challenges that began at a very young age. At six years old, I was diagnosed with severe chronic anxiety and depression, and I developed emetophobia—a life-altering phobia that continues to be a constant battle. This experience reshaped how I engage with the world and deepened my understanding of both life and human nature. Read more>>
Amisha Kakkar
Resilience. The capacity to withstand or recover quickly from difficulties. I’m not sure “quickly” is the right word for me, but I do believe I eventually got my feet back on the ground. I was never good in school. I was never the typical Indian-American girl taking IB courses with straight A’s. I wasn’t in any AP courses either.
Cut to: college applications. I got rejected by every university in Colorado that would make any parent proud. However, I was accepted to Metropolitan State University of Denver. After finishing my freshman year, I realized I didn’t want to pursue journalism anymore and decided to focus on a more creative career. So, I dropped out and applied to The Art Institute of Colorado. A week before I was about to start, the school shut down. I didn’t know what to do for a while. Read more>>
Nicole Cummings
My loved ones. God & other black creatives that came before me-my motto: if they were able to push through worse then, I can make it through anything now. My loved ones is really my cheat code though. Their support & love hold me down-through whatever. With them I can always see the bigger picture & make it through any temporary set back. Read more>>
Michael Petrella
When I was ten years old, I came home from football practice and my dad asked me “how was practice?”. My dad was a salesman for his entire adult life, door to door at times in the 1950’s, and was an incredibly positive and resilient man. I suppose he needed to be to endure the type of rejection that comes with that line of work. I told him that practice was not going well and that I wasn’t getting playing time because “the coach didn’t like me”. The words he spoke next would resonate with me for my next 45 years. He said, “Mike, it doesn’t matter if he likes you or not. The coach is selfish and wants to win. If you are good enough, he will play you whether he likes you or not.” This quote struck deep and made me realize that I am in control of me and not outside forces. I control if I do my best. I control if I do the work to become better and if I am good enough, I will be successful. That day I learned, do the work and I will get to play in the game, the game of life. Read more>>
Tyinesha Watkins
I’ve been through so much in my lifetime
I get my strength from God and support from my family. Read more>>
Diana Feldman
When I was 21, I graduated college, hoping for an acting career. But I went to a graduation party with my fellow graduates and, on the return home, was hit by a drunk driver. and became completely disabled. It changed my life. After being cut out of the car and rushed to the local hospital, I was in critical condition with two shattered legs and placed on a respirator with the hope of saving my life. Read more>>
Randy Lewis
When I was in college, I developed debilitating pain in my hands from fine motor activities like computer usage, piano playing, and texting. The problem was mysterious and unprecedented, and prevented me from using a computer with my hands for more than four years. In order to keep going, I learned to use the computer with many adaptive devices, such as a foot mouse, head mouse, speed recognition, and even learned to play video games with my feet. Here’s a video I made at the time of me playing super smash with my feet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8xoLa9CUVE Read more>>
Razzaine Williams
In 2017, I was hospitalized with MRSA, a serious bacterial infection that had spread to my blood and organs. It was one of the scariest times of my life, and I wasn’t sure if I was going to make it. What kept me going was the love and support of my family and friends, who encouraged me every step of the way. I also found strength within myself by focusing on the hope of getting better and imagining a future where I was healthy again. Going through that experience showed me that resilience isn’t about never struggling, it’s about finding the courage to keep going, even when things feel impossible. That’s something I’ve carried with me ever since. Read more>>
Risa Sheppard
I’ve heard it said that the most successful people are not necessarily the smartest, richest or most talented. The most successful people are the ones with the most “grit” .
Grit, or resilience, is what has driven me for almost 50 years. I often say that I built my business on anxiety and prayer. I probably should have put the prayer before the anxiety and it would have saved me lots of grief!
Thinking back, I would say that I got most, if not all, or my resilience from my mother. Read more>>
Al-karim Moloo
I draw my resilience from my parents. They made the ultimate sacrifice by leaving East Africa and moving to Canada, driven by a goal: to create a brighter future and greater opportunities for themselves and future generations. They gave up the comforts and familiarity of their homeland to start fresh, facing countless challenges along the way. Their unwavering strength and ability to overcome these obstacles have been a constant source of inspiration for me. Read more>>
Trish Caldwell
Building resilience in my life has been shaped largely by the lessons I learned from my parents. Growing up, my family faced significant adversity, but my mom taught my siblings and me to always find the positive, even in the most difficult times. She instilled in us the understanding that challenges are temporary and that setbacks don’t define who we are. My mom and dad emphasized the importance of perseverance, reminding us that one bad thing doesn’t determine our future, and that hard work is the key to overcoming obstacles. Their unwavering belief in the power of resilience helped me navigate through tough times, reinforcing the value of staying focused, positive, and committed to working through difficulties. Read more>>
Janell Johnson
I’ve been surrounded by resilient women my entire life. I’ve seen resilience all around me growing up. In a city like Chester, we have no choice but to be resilient. I watched my grandmother and mother make a way when times got rough, and they still made sure I had a good life. I get my resilience from them. I get it from my community. I get it from my tribe of friends and connections who continue to push through when all of the odds are against me. It motivates me to see so many of my peers make something our of nothing. Read more>>
Maxwell Martin
I would say I get my resilience from the adversity that I had to go through as a foster child being that there were so many changes being changed from home to home just when I was getting comfortable and feeling loved by the family things would come in and change very rapidly so as a young child, I had to learn how to quickly gain my resilience which helped me in adulthood when things quickly change within prime example my career. Read more>>
Deborah Bonsu
I believe throughout the years, the Lord has allowed me to build up my resilience through reading and meditating on His word. As it says in Proverbs 24:16, “Though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again”. What this means to me is that yes, in life, the trials, tribulations, road bumps and hardships will come and knock you down or cause you to stumble, but ultimately, what really matters is how you get back up and your ability to keep moving forward, regardless how many times you’ve fallen. Additionally, there were many moments or seasons in my life where things weren’t going my way, mess up or felt that because I wasn’t doing enough, I was failing or disappointing myself. But I realized that those were all minor setbacks that were preparing me for something greater in the future. Even though it was hard, I still kept pushing because I knew in my mind that the Lord did not bring me this far just to bring me THIS far. Read more>>
Summer Justice
I get my resilience from support from friends and family. I have been through so many traumatic events and each one has shaped my life and how I choose to be towards others.
I suffered alone as a child in the foster care system. So for my formative years, I didn’t have a support system. I was in therapy as a child and I think that helped me process some early traumas, but it wasn’t until my adoptive parents took me in that I realized what life was supposed to be like. Read more>>
Sonja Crosby
Experience has taught me to persevere through challenges. From being raised by a single mother, serving in the US Army and breaking my leg in basic training but still graduating on time; to being in a life changing car accident and losing my then husband. I also broke my neck, back, right leg in two places and right collarbone. I know that bad things pass and good things happen with faith and perseverance. It is inevitable that bad things are going to happen, but the way we think about those things and how we overcome them, is key to living a good and happy life. Read more>>
Claudia Revilla
“My resilience comes from a combination of my upbringing in Mexico, my family values, and the challenges I faced when I moved to the United States. Growing up, I was surrounded by a culture that celebrated the importance of family, hard work, and perseverance. My parents taught me that no matter the obstacles, it’s important to stay strong and keep moving forward, especially when you’re working toward something you love. Read more>>
Nicole Nelson
I was born prematurely and had many health issues my first few months as a child. Looking back, I realize that, like all of us, my tenacity to live a good life was innate, but my capacity to withstand or to recover quickly from difficulties, that is a skill which evolved over time. What worked for me in my twenties to ‘bounce back’ is not what I know works for me today. Read more>>
Jess Adam
Over a decade ago, I brought home a dog I truthfully didn’t want. All this time later, he has turned out to be one of the biggest challenges and biggest blessings of my life, all at the same time. He came with anxiety and behavioral issues that I had no idea how to navigate, which frequently left me in tears and unsure if I could keep him. Read more>>
Ariel Adrian Almiron
“For me, resilience comes from my passion for dance and the way I’ve learned to face challenges. Every rehearsal, every competition, and every moment of uncertainty in this career has taught me to adapt, persevere, and push beyond my own limits. Dance connects me with my emotions, and that helps me transform difficulties into opportunities to grow, not only as an artist but also as a person.” Read more>>
Furaha Sadi
I developed my resilience from watching my parents work tirelessly to provide a life for us that they didn’t have. Their strength and determination showed me the value of hard work and perseverance. From a young age, I’ve been driven by a desire to give them the rest and comfort they deserve.
At the same time, I’ve never been content with the idea of settling for an average life. Why aim for the ordinary when extraordinary opportunities exist? That mindset pushes me to dream big and pursue what feels impossible, goals that 99.9% of people might shy away from because they seem too difficult. Read more>>
Yixuan Zhao
I get my resilience from getting outside of my comfort zone. Read more>>
Kelly Mendenhall
I want to claim that I work hard at being resilient or that I am conscious of it. I would love to offer readers solid advice on building resilience. However, resiliency, in my case, seems to be a combination of genetics and the examples set for me by my elders and ancestors, an innate sense of the purpose GUS (God/Universe/the Source) has for me in my time at Earth School, and grit and determination that I think comes naturally to those of us born and raised in southeast Michigan. Read more>>
Angela Naomi
There’s a poem by E. E. Cummings entitled, [i carry your heart with me(i carry it in]. It’s a simple poem about carrying the love of another with you wherever you go and letting that love endure.
By the time I was 16 years old, I had lost almost 12 friends and family members. One year, I lost 3 friends back to back in the first 3 months of the year. As the years went on, I lost more family and friends. Memories were all I had left; memories and love. Somewhere along the road of my life’s journey, I learned to live for my friends and family. I’ve had plenty of setbacks, failures, and even some tussles with depression. I’ve also had magnificent adventures and experiences. And it’s in all of those moments, I remember those that I’ve lost. “What would your cousin say if she saw your hair looking like this” is what I told myself when I was so emotionally exhausted I hadn’t combed my hair in a couple of days. The memory of being a kid and her styling my hair would play out in front of me like a movie. I can’t explain how, but I’d find the strength to shampoo, condition, and style my hair. Read more>>
Jesse Hummel
Coming to terms with PTSD, major depressive disorder, and chronic insomnia has been challenging and continues to be a major influence and my highest priority to this day. My mental health journey started similar to anyone else that has found the strength to survive themselves. Everything in my life got unimaginably more painful before I began to see results. Read more>>
