Where do you get your resilience from?

Most of all, form my sense of purpose and belief in myself. I’ve learned to face, time and again, challenging situations. Moving away from toxic environments and relationships is empowering. I’ve moved so much in my life, I’ve learned to be adaptable. I know what I’m meant to do. I’m an artist. I’m also a teacher. I want to touch people’s lives and have a positive impact. Read more>>

Where do I get my resilience from? I believe the greatest test to this was being homeless with a son about to be born and nowhere to raise him made me eager to change this narrative, so I did what I felt I had to do to make it possible to provide a safe and thriving environment for him, the brother, and two sisters that came along later in our lives—becoming a convicted felon in the process and being denied what I at the time believed to be life-changing job opportunities for me and my family, because I couldn’t pass a background check. I refused to accept this as my future and kept pushing forward, finding my way. Read more>>

During my 23 years in prison, I discovered my passion for transcribing books into Braille. Upon my release in 2016, I founded Authentic Braille Masters, LLC, a Braille transcription company. Despite the skepticism I faced from others who advised me to seek traditional employment, I was committed to my vision. As I established my business, I developed resilience, which became my guiding force. Within a year, my company transformed into an international powerhouse, serving clients not only in the United States but also in Canada.  Read more>>

This is a difficult question to answer because my resilience isn’t tied to just one thing; it’s something I’ve been developing throughout my life and continue to build today. However, a couple key experiences stand out as having a significant impact. The first is my father. My siblings and I had a tough childhood, and my father, in particular, was extremely hard on us. He raised us in a way that I don’t believe was common for our generation or those that followed. At the time, his approach often felt harsh, but looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing. He instilled in me the values of hard work, perseverance, and integrity, which have shaped who I am today. Read more>>

Life itself, I guess. Sooner or later, we all get to experience hardships, loss and tragedies in our lives. I once read that the happiest people aren’t the people who have never had bad things happen to them, but that the happiest people are those with most resilience. Those who bend like a leaf of grass in the wind, but don’t snap. Read more>>

During my time at Miami Dade Community College, I was able to have an incredible teacher and close group of friends. We were all filled with a deep hunger to exhibit and our teacher helped us find spaces to slowly show our work and express ourselves in our paintings. Once the two years were done, we all graduated from community college at the same time and applied to schools all over the country. I selected to stay home and attend the University of Miami. During this period, it was more of a solitary experience, being a more typical university, the painting program was very small, I talked with graduate students more but interactions were minimal since most painted during the day. With school and work, my painting time was concentrated to the night, my final semester sleeping at the studio as I pulled all-nighters trying to make the most of my time there. Read more>>

Resilience runs through my blood. It was cultivated by my grandparents in the mountains of Bulgaria, where they toiled the harsh land from the time they were children. It was refined by my parents in the factories built by the Communist regime, where they worked physically draining, soul-crushing jobs. And it was passed on to me in the projects of Sofia where my single mother and I lived with my grandparents and my uncle in a one-bedroom apartment that had no central heating or hot water. Read more>>

There are many personal traits that can benefit a person who is ambitious. I can’t think of a single thing more important than resilience. I was blessed to witness this first-hand because I am the youngest of five, being raised by a single mother. Dorothy Armstrong was an extraordinary person. If she had not succumbed to cancer at the age of 49, I believe she would have been the person in my family to become famous. My mom was active during the civil rights era, and even met Dr. King. During the 1970’s she went to war against Philadelphia’s racist Mayor, Frank Rizzo. Read more>>

Music. Learning a musical instrument and sticking with it is difficult thing. You simply have to keep at it or your skills begin to slip. Understanding that simple concept has helped me enormously in all areas of my life. Read more>>

I get my resilience from the God of my understanding. My higher power is an energy that encompasses all things living. By doing my best to find the humility to accept that and to look, listen, and learn from that open-minded point of view I’m left with curiosity and wonder. These feelings in pursuit of my path fill me with optimism and hope. As I approach any of life’s challenges, I am able to adapt and overcome, to let go and let God. It is fulfilling to think I am included in God’s great plan, and to trust in God and know that the greater good will come from my efforts this way. Read more>>

As a Christian, resilience is what truly develops a believer in the faith. We learn how to be strong and withstand spiritual warfare of all kinds. In this life we are not given the promise of a perfect life but to commune with a perfect God to help us through it. I learned resilience from a young age of being raised in a multicultural family, that is both Mexican and Arab. I was raised with 3 siblings and 2 wonderful parents. I watched my family overcome poverty and achieve the American dream. My father left to fight in the Afghanistan war when I was 15. This had a major life impact and it ended up making my entire family struggle. I had been raised Christian my entire life, my mother was rescued by God from North African and came to the US to raise her children Christian. Read more>>

I learned resilience as a child that it’s not about what happened to me it’s about what I choose to do about it. Making paintings, music, writing, acting, dance, film, or photography helped me connect to myself as an individual and a team member. Art helped me get through every hard time or tragity allowing me to be resilient from what happened and drive my heart and emotions into a focused art form thus using that energy to find truth and self-love. This helped me create a counter experience from pain or disappointment. The arts gave me the tools to bounce back with creation letting me live in. I resiliently created art the world that I want to live in, & stay here to do my part. Read more>>

I think I get my resilience first by growing up in a large family—7 sisters and 1 brother—where my father was a mechanic, and my mom had odds and ends jobs while she raised 9 children. We were in survival mode most of the time, and yet we had a lot of joy along the way. I remember when things were really bad, the electricity was turned off, and my mom strung a laundry line through the dining room to dry the clothes. We just dealt with whatever was dished up to us. Read more>>

My resilience comes from my upbringing and the women who raised me, especially my mother. She was a single mother raising three kids off the grid in a part of Hawai’i that often feels forgotten, like a third-world country within America. There were no easy opportunities or resources, and my siblings and I were homeschooled in the jungle with very little outside support. Read more>>

I have an internal drive that motivates me to persistently work with small businesses optimizing their marketing. I was raised in a very conservative home where women did not work outside of managing the family and I always knew that I wanted more than what I was told I had to be. I had a business and marketing ability but my parents and conservative environment did not understand it and tried to squelch it. So I found a path to enable my abilities but appease them. I became a nurse and then transitioned into marketing for healthcare. Read more>>

I developed my resilience by surrounding myself with inspirational figures who overcame adversity and persevered. It all begins with my grandfather. He left Cuba without his family on a raft, uncertain if he would ever see them again or even make it to the United States, yet he took the risk, willing to sacrifice everything for his freedom and the freedom of his children. Remarkably, he went on to build a successful business without speaking any English or working towards a higher education —a truly admirable feat. Read more>>

My resilience is deeply rooted in my faith, which serves as a cornerstone of my strength and perseverance. This unwavering belief provides me with a sense of hope and purpose, guiding me through life’s challenges with a steady hand. Coupled with this spiritual foundation is my innate love for learning and growth, a passion that illuminates my path and fuels my journey forward. This love is not just a trait but a driving force, propelling me to embrace change, seek new opportunities, and continuously evolve both personally and professionally. Read more>>

This is an interesting question because it is one that I ask myself all the time. Life and the struggles of trying to grow your own business feels like climbing a mountain to me. Time to time as I’m climbing I take a moment to turn around and look down which fills me with accomplishment and fear that I may fall back down. I think it is this feeling that keeps me going because I feel if I stop I will regress to a less confident and capable self. I would like to reframe this question in my head because I should be thinking more about the positives than the negatives. Read more>>

I battled an autoimmune disease for 3 years, and was misdiagnosed with multiple sclerosis. I never identified myself as being “sick”. I had 2 choices, either to marinade in the depressing moments or to pick myself up and figure out how to get better. I knew it was something that I could heal from. The symptoms I had, both hands and leg tremors, memory loss, voice tremor to name a few, really opened my eyes to the things that I took for granted. Being able to walk normally, being able to write a simple to do list, or to even just say my name became exhausting and difficult. Experiencing that overwhelming frustration of not being able to do everyday tasks gave me the strength and resiliency to work towards getting better and healing. Read more>>

I get my resilience from prevailing daily, working harder daily, working on new content, new goals for myself. I don’t want to be average I want to be one of one. Read more>>

I gained my resilience from my parents , my big sister and God. Growing up I watched how strong and determined my father, mother and big sister was/are and it made me push pass a lot of things I went through in life. I went through so much at a young age which gave me grit, built me up and helped me muscle through every trial and tribulation. God has always been my biggest supporter through my storms, his words always give me comfort during times, I thought I’d never get through and times that felt unbearable. God’s love and spirit has always kept me in perfect peace past my understanding. Read more>>

My resilience comes from my family, chosen family, and community. From my family, I learned to stay true to myself and my values. As a first-generation son of Mexican immigrants, I’ve witnessed my parents face adversities while remaining committed to building a financially stable, united, and hardworking family—an example of resilience that inspires me. Read more>>

I grew up in a chaotic, sometimes violent home, and humor became my lifeline. I don’t know where it came from—maybe it’s a gift from God—because even as a child, I could spot the absurdity in the most ridiculous situations. When your mind is wired that way, you can’t help but see the humor. Even if it’s inappropriate or poorly timed, it’s always lurking, ready to burst forth. Read more>>

Being resilient is honestly one of my greatest strengths because no matter how much I get knocked down or pushed back, I always know there are better times ahead. Growing up, I was really luck and privileged and I had anything I could have ever wanted. Once I moved to the United States as a teenager, my life did a complete 360 and I found myself starting over and having to work for everything I have and that has taught me so much resilience. Read more>>

I’d say my resiliency derives from a strong determination to follow through on my ideas. Ya know, there’s nothing worse than having a great idea and not following through on it. Then, later in life imagining what it could’ve been,
I hate that feeling, feeling regret. Also, overcoming life altering situations with community violence & homelessness in the past has given me the confidence and strength to tackle future challenges in the creative business world. Knowing that i conquered those obstacles, I can withstand almost anything. Read more>>

I’ve started many interviews and blogs with “as an international student…” and this one’s no different. This was my origin story, where resilience wasn’t pretty. For years, I had to fight for my place in spaces where I didn’t belong—both in tangible environments and in more ambiguous forms of existence. The pressure to succeed was deeply tied to the sentiment that everything I had worked for, everything I had given up or traded in, could not be in vain. So, I left no opportunity unturned. Read more>>

My resilience comes from desire. Since a young age, I have been obsessed with characters and comedy. Growing up in Hong Kong with 3 english TV channels, I savored these things wherever I saw them- in the bumbling anchor of the nightly news, the overly serious scholar being interviewed on BBC, or the tearful mother speaking to camera in a Kleenex commercial. And, of course, in movies. Read more>>

I draw resilience from the little girl with big dreams who still lives within me. She’s someone I never want to disappoint. I can often picture her and remember the dreams she once had. Now, as an adult, I see myself as her protector. In times of hardship, I find strength by reconnecting with the reasons I started my journey in the first place. My resilience isn’t about waiting for someone to save me; it’s rooted in relentless faith and determination. Read more>>

This is a good question because ultimately I think the quality you need to be successful in the long run is grit or resilience. I think Rudyard Kipling sums it up well in his poem If – ‘if you can keep your head when all those around you are losing theirs and blaming it on you’. Read more>>

Resilience has been a cornerstone of my artistic journey. One of the most significant challenges I’ve faced was navigating through a divorce. It was an incredibly difficult chapter in my life, one that tested my strength and resolve. Yet, amidst the turmoil, I found the courage to rise again. Each day presented a choice: to stay down (some days I did) or to embrace the possibility of new beginnings. That experience taught me the importance of perseverance and the power of creativity as a healing force, reminding me that every setback can spark a resurgence of inspiration. Read more>>

**Dubb Boy Entertainment: A Testament to Resilience and Work Ethic** At Dubb Boy Entertainment, the foundation is built on resilience and an unwavering work ethic, exemplified by artists like Pharoah YT. His relentless dedication to his craft shines through in every project, showcasing the commitment that defines our brand. Pharoah embodies the spirit of hard work—spending countless hours in the studio, perfecting his sound, and engaging deeply with his audience. This tenacity not only elevates his artistry but also inspires those around him within the Dubb Boy community. Read more>>

Starting from a young age, I was the first born in my immediate family, as well as the first born child/grandchild on both sides of my family. Since then, I have 5 younger siblings (from my parents multiple marriages) and an abundance of cousins. But, within my immediate family, I was raised with 2 of my siblings and our childhood was not an easy nor enjoyable one. Being the oldest, I had to grow up a little faster and was a comforter to my two younger siblings when the fighting got bad between my dad and step-mom. I had to make some decisions for myself and my sister when we were very young. Read more>>

I would say I get a lot of my resilience from my children and family. Growing up in Brooklyn, NY was tough when you aspired to do better than the generation before you and influencers in that environment. As an African-American millennial, I know the feeling and pressure of being the first to graduate from college, or buy a house in one’s family. So when I see my kids it brings me resilience and motivation to continue to be better, so they can be even better than me, hopefully creating a new cycle of generational wealth. Read more>>

My resilience stems from a combination of personal experiences and strong influences from my heritage and culture. Growing up in Iran, I saw firsthand the resilience of people facing adversity, particularly women who have fought tirelessly for their rights and freedom. That gave me a strong sense of perseverance. Read more>>

I developed resilience through both my faith and the strong work ethic instilled by my family. I learned that with curiosity, research, perseverance, and hard work, you can navigate challenges and accomplish your goals. Equally important is maintaining an open mind and being able to pivot and adapt to change. This combination has been invaluable in all areas of my life, both personally and across my diverse career path. Read more>>

My own journey wasn’t nurtured by the safety net of unconditional love. Growing up, my mother did her best, but parenting wasn’t her calling. When I was just 13, I was sent to live with my best friend’s family for a year. I attended three different high schools, and by my senior year, I found myself living with my 20-year-old college boyfriend. The stability that most people expect during their formative years wasn’t there for me, but that’s where resilience played a pivotal role. It came from within, fueled by a belief in the possibility of something better. Read more>>

My resilience comes to me by way of my daughter, Keona Sparks, whom I birthed at age 15. As I’ve watched Keona morph into the strong, independent, compassionate, mother she has, I’ve learned much from her along the way. Keona markets her “Resilient” brand very well, and has taught me to look back, over my own life and list every major accomplishment that was tied to an emotion. She then lead me down a path to really feel the identified emotion, title it, and release it, if it were no longer serving my purpose.  Read more>>

Resilience, for me, has always been rooted in a deep desire to break the generational curses that have impacted both sides of my family. I grew up knowing that I wanted to create something bigger than myself—a legacy that could change the trajectory for those who come after me. This ambition has driven me through financial hardships, personal challenges, and a never-ending journey of self-improvement. Read more>>

My resilience stems from my commitment to self-love. Throughout my life, I have faced numerous challenges, starting from childhood. I endured child abuse, experienced homelessness, and struggled with substance abuse, even becoming an abuser myself. Early on, I understood that there was no savior or external force to rescue me from my circumstances. I later discovered that the belief systems that trapped me in these cycles were ones I had to heal from within. Engaging in activities I was passionate about helped ground me in the present and ultimately saved me from self-destruction. I faced a choice: succumb to debilitating depression or choose to create. Read more>>

Most of my resilience comes from 24 years of skateboarding. It’s cliche to say, but it’s one of the most difficult activities you could get into. The never-ending process of falling and getting back up gets embedded into every true skateboarder’s psyche, to a point where your perception of reality evolves and everyday life seems easy by comparison. Read more>>

My resilience comes from both personal experiences and the support of my family. Growing up without having much but at the same time, my mom made sure she could give us what she could. Times were so different back then in general. Even though we didn’t have much, it just seemed so much more appreciated for the things that were given. I remember me and my neighbor used to knock on each other’s door for small things just in case we were out of it. Like, eggs, butter, etcetera. Read more>>

My capacity to be resilient comes from choosing a soul-guided life, listening to my heart, and cultivating an ongoing connection to my spirituality, creativity, and Divine Mastery Presence. What that means and looks like for me is noticing what I am noticing from an expanded witnessing presence. I set the intention to be curious and pay attention to whether the inner messages are being relayed to me by my thoughts, emotions, body, or spirit from an open and curious observer presence that is neutral, compassionate, and non-judgmental. Read more>>

My resilience stemmed from my overtly optimistic perspective of myself. As far as I can remember, and still today, I have this underlying knowing that I will be successful. I’m not sure what successful looks like, but I know I will get there. On top of that though, I look back and see the challenges that I’ve gone through and simply think very few things can be worse than that. Even if my business is a complete failure, It’s not the end of the world. I am still healthy and blessed in many ways. So having that point of view, puts fear really low on my list of emotions. Read more>>

Resilience is definitely something I’ve had to work on over the years. Ultimately, it comes from many sources. The first is my passion for what I do and why I do it. I love being self-employed and working as an artist. When things get tough, I reconnect with why I started this business in the first place—freedom and creativity—which helps reset my drive. Read more>>