Where do you get your resilience from?

Resilience is often the x-factor that differentiates between mild and wild success. The stories of most of the wildly successful folks in our community have exhibit an extreme degree of resilience and we’ve come to believe that if our goal is to help our community achieve great outcomes we have to help build resources and knowledge around how one can become more resilient.

Cooper The Queen

The saying an apple doesn’t fall far from the tree applies to me and my mama. I get my determined resolve for the positive from her. She fought a hard upbringing wrought with abuse and trauma. She was a convicted felon after protecting her life from an abusive partner. She was told that she would never be more than a statistic, Fast forward to her raising three kids, Being an entrepreneur, hospice care nursing assistant, and helping to secure social security benefits for people even when attorneys couldn’t. She proved that your circumstances don’t define your legacy. Read more>>

Sofia Stefou

I think it comes from not always having a Plan B. From having to move forward in situations where there was not always an opportunity to turn back. On some level this is a habit that I’ve adopted and a way to approach all my challenges. Read more>>

Dr Shan Jackson

For me, resilience is more than just a quality; it’s a fundamental aspect of who I am, developed throughout years of growth, personal struggle, and a steadfast faith in the ability to transform. My vulnerability gave rise to my resilience; it was there that I once felt helpless and lost but eventually found the strength to slowly rebuild my life. Read more>>

Anna Caruso

I believe part of my resilience comes from having been able to transform the negatives that life throws at you into positive and lessons learned. Read more>>

Shannon Livezey

When people ask me where I get my resilience from, I often chuckle and tell them a story about a broken finger and a “9-finger discount.” But the truth is, resilience isn’t just about handling physical setbacks; it’s also about how you adapt, innovate, and persist in the face of challenges. My journey as a massage therapist and business owner has been a testament to this, with a few twists and turns that taught me valuable lessons along the way. Read more>>

Selena Parsley

A strong sense of self. Being brave enough to stand out from the crowd at an early age. Seeing the vision I have for myself and knowing I have the willpower to create whatever I want. Read more>>

Leroy Garcia

Growing up in Taos, New Mexico, as the second oldest of 11 children, I always understood the importance of being a role model. Life on the ranch taught me the value of hard work and responsibility from an early age. Whether it was sunshine, rain, or snow, I had to rise early to milk the cows before heading to school. These experiences shaped who I am today—someone not afraid to get their hands dirty and finish what they start. Even when faced with challenges, like getting kicked in the face by a cow, I knew that resilience was something I had to find within myself. Read more>>

Giovanni Porter

That’s a great question! I honestly get my resilience from experiencing real life situations like we all have. Being 27 now, I look at life so differently and I’m not the same person I use to be 6 months ago or even a year ago. I’ve grown so much and have overcome so many challenges the past decade that have shaped me into who I embrace today. So yeah, the obstacles that I had to face alone definitely played a vital part in my resilience! Read more>>

Sharnai Angram-ivory

I get my resilience from my mom, who was an incredibly strong woman. Despite being a single mother, she raised my sister and me with so much love and strength that I didn’t fully realize how much she may have struggled until she was no longer with us. She shielded us from her worries because she wanted us to enjoy a happy, carefree childhood. After she passed, I learned to be even more resilient, driven by the desire to make her proud every day. Read more>>

Taylor Varble-williamson

I would say that my resilience definitely comes from both of my parents, but mainly my mother. She never gave up… like ever. I don’t even think that was in her vocabulary. They went through a lot together and had to bounce back from multiple hardships. I compare the two because owning a business is the same way, you have to be able to make it work. There is no other option! Growing up, my dad was in the Military, so he was away a lot. Seeing how my mother handled taking care of three small children, who, by the way, were extremely close in age; definitely showed me how resilient she was. Read more>>

Stephen “abstrakt Brutha” Stewart

I believe I get my resilience from my martial arts training. Growing up I lived in a neighborhood where I would get into alot of fights when walking home from elementary school. My parents decided to put me in martial arts classes at a very early age. It was like karate programed me with resiliency, grit, determination and patience. When fighting i had to be able to “roll with the punches” and pick myself back up. Read more>>

Celeste Didona

As someone who struggled immensely in school with a learning disability, I learned how to get back on my feet after each and every failure I experienced. This created extraordinary resilience in me to continue to fail forward and never let my disability define me or failure define me. Read more>>

Jessica Cure

I’ve always been high achieving from a young age and my father always nurtured me when I made mistakes by asking me what I learned from them and then teaching me how to move forward with that new knowledge. I also suffered with an autoimmune disease which led to a complete life change in 2012 when I found myself in a hospital. I had to be very resilient then to overcome my health issues which took years to get through. I learned how very strong I was and how to start my life all over again with a new trajectory which proved that I could do anything I set my mind to. Read more>>

Dun Milhouse

SINCE I WAS A KID I WAS A LONER AND IN CONSTANT PAIN EVERY DAY OF MY LIFE. I DIDN’T FEEL LIKE I CONNECTED WITH ANYONE OR “FIT IN”, EVEN WHEN IT CAME TO MY FAMILY. I WAS CONSIDERED BY MANY TO BE “WEIRD OR UNIQUE” COMPARED TO THOSE IN MY ENVIRONMENT. I ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW HOW OR WHY THINGS WORKED THE WAY THEY DID. BE IT ELECTRONICS OR TOOLS, ANIMALS, NATURE, HUMANS AND THEIR MINDS, ETC.. I WANTED TO KNOW EVERYTHING. I DIDN’T LIKE LARGE GROUPS, LOUD MUSIC AND NOISE OR PARTIES. WHERE I LIVED, THAT WAS THE NORM. Read more>>

Angela Brown

I get my resilience from my parents. Their examples are the foundation of my resilience. I like to call my daddy “my grounding or the tempo.” I like to call my mother “the rhythm of my life.” My father provided the example of resilience by working the same job for 41 years. When he retired he actually had accrued 47 years because he had six years of unused sick time. His discipline in work ethic played a huge part in who I am. Read more>>

Wilson Stiner

I have to acknowledge this forum for spreading actionable bits of encouragement. It is very easy to get caught up in the distractions of flat society and lose momentum. I hope something I say here today can spark a positive impact in your readers. Bold journeys are the ones I care about. Last time we did this, I was asked about resilience and immediately uttered that it was the most important component of an artist’s makeup, and that it was somehow inevitable. Read more>>

Patrick Demarco

For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been a resilient person! I believe immersing myself in all types of music, owning the stage when I was younger, and living for pop culture and the performing arts basically my entire life have certainly made me creatively resilient in the best ways possible! Read more>>

Laurie Mcneel-windeknecht

In 2017, I was diagnosed with a rare form of breast cancer (Triple Negative Breast Cancer) and found to have a rare gene (BRAC2) which increases cancer risk. This particular form of breast cancer only accounts for approximately 10-15% of all breast cancers and the survival rate is very low. I was completely taken by surprise, as I had never spent any time in a hospital or had any health conditions. Read more>>

Angela Benack

It’s been my experience that things become the hardest right before success. The tough spot that seems like it will go on forever is the place where most people give up instead of re-concentrating their effort. In being a mom, wife, becoming a nurse & running a small business I’ve seen that victory is usually right over that tough spot & it only takes making a decision of commitment to make it through. I view challenges like a pie chart that’s 85% complete & push through to make that last 15% happen. Read more>>

Christy Fleming

I am the firstborn child of two very young parents who have built a legacy of love and family through faith, hard work, and commitment to one another. My parents taught me through action that life is unpredictable, that we cannot control other people’s choices, or even our own circumstances, but we can control how we move forward in response to any given situation. Read more>>

Buntu Hlotywa

I believe everyone has two jobs, the one that earns you money and the one that’s the main reason why you’re here to begin with and that’s the one that brings you happiness, joy and contentment. For me personally, my strand of resilience stems from knowing that I have a mission to accomplish, a reason for being, an unspoken obligation to society and humanity at large and until I see through I have to keep pushing barriers, I have to make sure that I achieve every necessary step that’s in alignment with the bigger picture. Read more>>

Judy L. Perry

I draw my resilience from having watched my mom struggle through life and bounce back as if all was well. As I traveled through this life, I have experienced death, trauma, poverty, violence, sickness, and homelessness. Each time I face these challenges, I remember my mom’s strength, love, motivation, and fortitude. Although I didn’t understand the cause of her struggle until I had my child at age 15, she always seemed to make us feel like we were one of the wealthiest families on the block. But the truth was, we were one of the poorest, and mom was a single mom raising four children. Read more>>

Tim Melone

That’s always an interesting question; where did that come from? I wish developing resilience was as easy as finding the right kind or item at Target or Wal-mart. However, in my experience developing resilience is like deciding on a particular hike and then packing enough food, water, and sunscreen, checking the time to ensure your safe return, and then taking those first steps to ascend the mountain of discovery. It’s deciding on the goal you want to achieve and then making it happen. Sometimes you rest, slow down for a quick sip of water, and pacing yourself to ensure you have what it takes to finish the journey.  Read more>>

Gina Tyquiengco

I get my resilience from the women in my family, especially my late Nana Rose. She helped raise me and was a true warrior—the most resilient person I’ve ever known. More than just an amazing grandmother, she was my mom, friend, teacher, and guiding light. Her strength and love always carried me out of darkness and into light, and her influence continues to shape who I am today. Read more>>

Svetlana Clarke

I remember growing up and whatever idea I got into my head, I applied myself until it was a reality. When my family moved into a new apartment, there was a young girl playing cello a floor above us and I used to listen to her everyday. I told my mom that I wanted to play, her response was: music is not a career. I was stubborn and was not thinking of it as career at that moment. I wanted to experience what she was experiencing so I went to a music school and enrolled. I finished music school. Read more>>

Antonée Thomson

Resilience has been the cornerstone of my journey, deeply rooted in my experiences as a competitive athlete, my educational pursuits, my career, and my role as a parent. Growing up as an athlete, I learned early on the value of working hard, pushing through tough moments, and embracing the concept of “failing forward.” Every loss was an opportunity to learn, to grow stronger, and to prepare for the next challenge. Wins, while celebrated, were also humble reminders that there’s always room for improvement. This mindset shaped not just my performance on the field, but also how I approach life’s challenges. Read more>>

Kimberly Brown

Resilience and work ethic were instilled in me by my parents from a young age. My dad’s relentless hard work shaped my understanding of commitment and perseverance. I started working at 14, which taught me to juggle responsibilities and honor commitments despite personal struggles. I was 19 when my dad passed away unexpectedly and I stepped up to support my family, driven by the work ethic he modeled. Read more>>

Madiana Margao

My resilience is deeply rooted in the rich tapestry of my upbringing. Growing up in inner-city Washington, DC, within a vibrant Sierra Leonean household, I was immersed in a culture that values strength, perseverance, and community. The stories of my ancestors, who faced and overcame tremendous challenges, instilled in me a profound sense of determination. My family, having navigated their own adversities, imparted invaluable lessons about hard work, the importance of education, and the power of hope. Read more>>

Joy Tutu-brempong

When I landed my gig as a marketing designer at a fintech company, I was pumped but also pretty nervous. My first big project was a campaign for a new product feature, and I was all set to crush it. But when I showed my designs, they didn’t quite hit the spot, and I could tell my team wasn’t impressed. It was a tough moment, and I felt like I was really up against it. Read more>>

Brandy Rametta

My resilience was discovered in my Motherhood. There is a gift given as soon as that seed is planted; it is a life force that knows no bounds. Motherhood was such a spiritual journey for me. What other life experience can give a weighted and venerable body, the most vigorous and indestructible strength? Motherhood put definition on my time, on my name and my true identity. It made me turn what felt like weakness, into resilience. It made me turn past trauma into reflection. It made me turn my fatigue into focus. It forced me to take a good look at myself, to see, I needed to nurture myself first to try to change the pathway for my children. It led me back to my yoga mat, and into a deep re-connection with self development. Read more>>

Sarah Dylan Jensen

While my childhood wasn’t severely traumatic, it wasn’t white picket fences and rainbows. My parents divorced when I was 3, and I was deeply saddened by this turn of events. We had a lovely home, my mom was able to be a SAHM because my dad worked for the big oil company in Northern Alaska and was able to support us fully. I couldn’t understand how anyone wouldn’t want this life, or why my parents didn’t want to stay together. I spent a lot of my childhood wishing for them to get back together. There was so much about relationships I didn’t understand, and it would take me a long time to grasp those realizations. Read more>>

Natalie Lomeli

Resilience can be such a strange word. I think a common understanding may be; having the ability to be successful despite ongoing trauma or failures, for me it’s bit deeper than that. For me what the word really means is; continuing to believe that you are valuable and worthy of love despite the people that have harmed you. I think in the past I may have believed that my resilience came from going through a lot of trauma at a young age, but my ability to be productive in the face of trauma didn’t mean that I had healed from that trauma. Read more>>

Michele Defilippo

Growing up in an Italian family in Brooklyn, NY, I learned resilience from a young age. In the 1950s, it was acceptable to undermine a child’s confidence. Put-downs like “Get over yourself,” “Don’t get a big head,” and “Sit down and shut up” were common. It may sound strange now, but there was a rivalry between the Irish and Italians then. Since I attended a primarily Irish Catholic school, I was told outright that I couldn’t take part in schoolyard games, join the Girl Scouts, or fit in. Thankfully, these experiences only made me more determined to resist. Read more>>

Gary Neal Jr

I get my resilience from my family and serving in the military. When you are in a war zone without the support and proper amenities, you learn to adapt and overcome. Watching people in my family persevere also is a motivational factor in my life as well. Read more>>

Winona L. Thomas

This question prompts me to reflect on numerous life experiences that have shaped my resilience. In my book “A Place of Peace,” there is a chapter titled “Refined for Resilience,” which defines resilience as the ability to return to one’s original form after being bent, compressed, or stretched. This definition leads me to explore the origins of my own resilience. Read more>>

Tacondra Brown

I believe that every woman possesses immense strength and resilience, like trees. Yet, sometimes life’s challenges can knock us down, cloud our vision, and hold us back from rebuilding, believing, and embracing our ability to bounce back. There have been many times in my life as an author, artist, transformational leader and coach when I found myself feeling completely lost after experiencing painful setbacks and unexpected life transitions. To the point where I didn’t recognize who I had become. Read more>>

Eileen Dover

When I was younger I was bullied by not only students but teachers. I went to a catholic high school in Boston during the time when the Catholic Church was covering up the sexual abuse of students in the school system. Unfortunately I was abused by a teacher and verbally abused by some of the teachers who didn’t like gay people. I just didn’t fit in. I have been through more than most and have had to learn resilience. It’s a combination of discipline and patience and hope. When I’m focused on something I want to do I am relentless in some ways with myself.  Read more>>

Marisa Rapezzi

I definitely gained it from a multitude of places and situations. Living in New York, growing up lower income, training as a dancer through out my childhood. I think most of it comes from my mother. She always encouraged me to go forward with all my creative endeavors and reminds me no matter what happens I will always figure it out. Read more>>

Jarmel Mcclary

I got it from sports , because when I was in school I hooped and folks look at the good parts because they see you playing but don’t see the grind behind the scene. All the practices and grinding. I just transferred it to my brand and everyday life. Read more>>

Gn$

This is such a good question. I guess I should start by saying, I did not have an easy upbringing by any means necessary. I grew up in a very traumatic environment, and the only way I was able to get through it was having strength and resilience. I couldn’t even tell you where it comes from, my best answer would have to be god because something higher then my self had to be pulling me through those moments. Now as an adult, after overcoming so many dark things, I know my power. I know what I’m capable of. I don’t feel there is really anything in this world that could ever completely break me down. Because if I survived that, I can survive anything. Read more>>

Alex Witherow

I lived in New York City for over 7 years and that is a city of sink or swim. The city demands excellence no matter what you do there. When I was there, I had just began my car rental business buying 5 cars and renting them to UBER drivers, which of course, was a massive headache initially. You just have to keep moving forward and trust that it’s all part of the plan. I can say that looking back, I’m thankful for that experience because it not only made me tougher, but a true industry expert in my industry. Read more>>

David Anthony

Lately I’ve been told from people who have been with me through the storms of life and those who have recently stood with me in the fire, that I’ve always had a strong level of Resilience. and have been asked where does it come from. My Strong and secure answer is GOD. When I look back over my life and what I’ve survived, I did not survive it in my own strength. It is all God. Read more>>

Roya Nazari Najafabadi

My resilience comes from exploring the intersections between personal and collective struggles, especially regarding cultural displacements and environmental instability. Echo Forms: Voices of Iranian Women Diaspora* is a project that explores the challenges and grief associated with climate change, as well as how to adapt in a new environment. By capturing these states of rapid transition, both psychologically and physically, I can create powerful stories that help me achieve personal change. In my core is strength. I translate suffering into art, and each work I produce speaks volumes about the experiences I would have otherwise kept silent. “Art keeps me going. Every challenge is an opportunity to grow.” Read more>>

Cadence Kidwell

A lot of my childhood, my mom was a single mom in the 60’s, and she figured out how to keep my brother and I in the same house and refill it with furniture and the essentials. I remember hearing her laugh at parties down the street – she was a great role model for “getting stuff done” and being optimistic. She had lots of stories of how she tried new things and started over. There wasn’t a lot of cheerleading or rewards, it was just expected that I would figure things out and I can see that that expectation was a real gift. Read more>>

Galya Smith

I get my resilience from a combination of my upbringing, personal experiences, and intentional habits. Growing up, my family instilled in me a growth mindset and encouraged me to take risks, view failures as learning opportunities, and develop problem-solving skills. Throughout my life, I’ve faced various challenges and setbacks, but I’ve learned to reframe them as chances to grow, adapt, and become stronger. Read more>>

Tiayana Logan

Resilience, for me, is more than just a word—it’s a way of life that I have had to embody in every step of my journey. As a Black mom, a former athlete, and a woman navigating spaces where the odds are often stacked against me, resilience has been both a necessity and a source of strength. Read more>>

Caitlyn West

My biggest reason to become a photographer, was due my own experience with my wedding photographer back in 2016. I had done photography back in High-school, as most teenagers do, but didn’t get further than a few paid photoshoots for fellow friends and families. Life happened and I took a step back from photography, but I would still pull out the camera on occasion. Si I was familiar with how photography worked and the basics of it all, but never has a confidence to truly call myself “professional” Read more>>

Leeroy Nyabeze

My resilience stems from a combination of personal experiences and the support system around me. Growing up, I faced various challenges that taught me the importance of perseverance and adaptability. My family and friends has always been a pillar of strength, encouraging me to push through difficult times and reminding me of my capabilities. My career in modeling has required me to develop a thick skin and a positive mindset as it’s a field where rejection and criticism are common.  Read more>>