I was in south Florida recently which is still recovering from the effects of hurricane Ian, and the word that kept coming to my mind was Resiliency. So much of the area was back up and running, and the rest of the state was lining up to help and support those that were still in bad shape. In a time when we can seem so divided, it’s truly inspiring to see people rallying around each other for a common cause.
Obviously, these Florida residents are extremely resilient and willing to do the work, and as I’ve learned being resilient can come in many shapes and forms. Resiliency is not only persevering through adversity, it also means taking what you’ve learned from your past and applying it to your decisions in the present to create a future you desire.
As I was thinking about resiliency, I started finding examples of it everywhere I looked and came across an article about a 5th year senior playing for the Michigan Football program. This was a young man who was a highly recruited 5-star player out of high school, which earned him aa scholarship to a big-time program. After his freshman year he was dismissed from the school, he then transferred to another large school and within a year was dismissed again.
In his interviews he fully admitted that his behavior and bad decisions are what ultimately led to his dismissals and owned that he simply wasn’t prepared for the type of attention he would receive as a big-time college athlete. Sadly, this is a common story for many kids, athlete or non-athlete as they may not have developed the life-skills or have the support needed to succeed at the college level.
This could have been the end of his story, but his resiliency came through. He transferred yet again to a Junior College program and with the help of his coach and his grandmother who gave him their full support, but more than that held him accountable to his actions. After 2 years of hard work and perseverance, he graduated. With still a year of eligibility left he was granted another opportunity to play big time college football.
So far this young man seems to be making the most of his final opportunity and if things keep going the way then he may have a shot to play at the professional level. The thing is, whether he plays professional football or not, he has already won in the much bigger game of life.
You see resiliency isn’t just powering through adversity as sometimes our survival instincts just kick in during those times. Resiliency is NOT allowing your past to dictate your future, but rather taking those lessons and applying them in your present to create the future you truly desire. That’s resiliency.
Let me ask you:
Where are you allowing your past to dictate your future?
What lessons have you learned through the adversity you have faced in your life or career?
How are you applying those lessons to make your decisions in the present.
Every one of us at some point in our lives is going to have our plans wrecked by the proverbial “Hurricane.” It will upend our boats and batter our shores leaving devastation in the wake. During these times how have you responded? Are you willing to put in the work, and surround yourself with people that will support you and hold you accountable? Or are you going to leave it to others to clean up the wreckage?
Believe it or not, as human beings we are designed to be extremely resilient, and our level of resiliency is completely up to us. Ultimately then resiliency is a choice we get to make on a daily basis.
What choice will you make today?
Cheers to being Resilient and your Continued success
One Quarter Turn at a time.
Thoughts for the week:
Enthusiasm is common, endurance is rare. – Angela Duckworth
It’s your reaction to adversity, not adversity itself that determines how your life’s story will develop. –Nelson Mandela
Do not judge me by my success, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.- Maya Angelou
Rock bottom became the solid foundation in which I rebuilt my life. -J.K. Rowling
It may sound strange, but many champions are made champions by setbacks. –Bob Richards
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