This post was originally posted on Blogger August 5, 2024.
Something I hear often from those who really know me, is how resilient I am, in both living with and managing myself, despite severe, non-stop, crazy-making chronic pain. That I do my best, and keep a positive attitude, despite the enormous and heavy odds against me.
It’s not easy, that’s for sure, but I refuse to let chronic pain win. I refuse to let it crumble me completely. Chronic pain has taken so much away from me, and it has changed me as a person. If I can help it, I’m not going to let it take everything from me, or let it steal my identity and who I am. But it takes work. A lot of work. And some days I just don’t have it. Thankfully on those days, I am able to rely on my support system and loved ones to help me get through it. On days I am able to do a little, I like to do things for others that show my appreciation for all their love and support.
What is resilience, and how do you build it? Resilience means that one is able to adapt to life’s misfortunes and setbacks, without it completely destroying you as a person. When you have resilience, you harness your inner strength that helps you rebound from a setback or challenge. These setbacks can be a job loss, an illness or chronic illness, chronic pain, a disaster (or pandemic!) or a loved one’s death.
Resilience won’t make your problems go away, but it can help you see past them and find ways to enjoy life and better handle stress. If you are not as resilient as you’d like to be, you can learn valuable skills to become more resilient.
Resilience means being able to mostly cope with tough events. When something bad happens, you still feel anger, grief, and pain, but you are able to keep going, both physically and mentally. Resilience isn’t about putting up with something tough, or coping on your own. It’s about being able to reach out to others for support. That support is a key part of being resilient.
Here are some quotes on resilience that inspire me to keep on keeping on: