“What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”
Whether you’ve read this quote in Nietzsche, heard it sung by Kelly Clarkson, or watched it parodied by the Joker in “The Dark Knight”, no one can deny the impact it has made on each of us. The reason this quote is iconic is due to its relatability and applicability in any situation or hardship one finds themselves in. It’s so relatable because it addresses one of nature’s most iconic traits–resilience.
Resilience is the ability to bounce back after a hardship, to work through pain or disappointment to continue fighting and thriving. It’s being knocked down and getting right back up. It’s not giving up in the face of a setback. It’s recovering after an injury or working and choosing to be happy after a traumatic event. Each one of us is resilient but we are separated by our ability to deal with the aftermath of recovery.
Just like dealing with grief, there are healthy ways to deal with setbacks and the flood of emotions that come with a major life event. One person may bottle up and ignore the anger they feel. Some may take it out on those around them, and some may not know how to deal with the stress and lingering feelings of doubt, sadness, anger, or loss. No matter the event, there are people around you to support and help you work through the setback. We all want you to come through the difficulties as a strong, independent, and resilient person.
Resilience may be a simple concept, it may be quoted frivolously and overused, but it’s integral to our success in anything we do. No one gets it right the first time. No one becomes ‘successful’ without ever being knocked down. No one is strong without something to make them so. We continue to work every single day to rise to our potential and build our personal resilience so that next time we will get up even faster.
