All Things Inspired

Our strength is not in our ability to endure punishing defeat, but rather in our refusal to be broken by life's challenges.

Our strength is not in our ability to endure punishing defeat, but rather in our refusal to be broken by life's challenges. The unbroken spirit of one's mentality is the unconquerable determination to endure regardless of any adversity that we face in our lives.

The unbroken spirit in us is the resilience in our belief that no amount of adversity, when life beats us down, can keep us down, can keep us defeated, or keep us from continuing our journey through life with a solid core of hope and strength. By accepting what challenges life has given you and focusing on your inner strength can you find meaning in the struggles you face. There are some strategies you can adopt to reinforce your resilience in times of distress. Here are a few to consider...

The story of you is not completed. Not all the chapters of your life have been written yet. Take advantage of the struggles you face to make you stronger. Each experience you have in life can add another chapter in your story. That is if you let it!
Mistakes foster growth! Forgive yourself. Forgive others. Let go of the past and build the future. It's easy in these situations to ask "why me". Start thinking beyond the "why me" and start saying to yourself, "I know why me". You will know why this is happening, it's because you are capable of handling all life gives you with mercy and grace.
If I've said it once, I've said 500 times; don't worry about what you can't control. As much as I've said this to others, I often fail to listen to my own advice in this matter. But I hope you will learn as I am learning that we need to stop fighting the things that we cannot control. It is wasted effort that only builds frustration, not growth. Together we need to vow to focus only our daily choices ahead of us, our actions that we take, and our attitudes toward how we handle these events.
You have to keep breathing. It's about surviving the day, surviving the chaos of the adversity at hand. This strategy reminds me of a scene from the movie Cast Away when the main character of the film, Chuck Noland, is talking to a friend after his rescue about contemplating suicide when all hope seemed lost. He said he had to keep breathing. He realized he had to survive, which lead to this quote, "Tomorrow the sun will rise. Who knows what the tide could bring?"

Sadly, some people never achieve the unbroken spirit. They find no other escape from the pain and hopelessness that can come with adversity. A buildup of these stressors in life can lead some to think that suicide is the only answer. If you see this level of brokenness in a friend or family member, don't ignore the signs. Encourage them to get help. This may be beyond the kind of help you can provide personally, but there is help available by calling or texting 988 (US and Canada) or visiting 988lifeline.org.

Do you have an unbroken spirit, or want to develop an unbroken spirit? I hope you said yes! If so, that's fantastic! Let's look at seven actions a person with an unbroken spirit engages in.

Persistence in action - they relentlessly pursue dreams and passions. Quitting is not an option. Failure is not final. They achieve this knowing that the path will be bumpy and difficult.
No self pity - There is no time to feel sorry for themselves. This only wastes precious time and effort toward their goals.
Don't worry, be happy - this goes back to the strategy of not wasting time on things that cannot be controlled by them.
Not afraid of vulnerability - while the unbroken spirit is confident, they also are aware that self care is important and are willing to ask for help. They know that true strength is in acknowledgement of this and involves embracing vulnerability.
Embrace change - if there is one thing consistent in life, it's change! The unbroken spirit welcomes change as an opportunity to grow. They don't fear the adversity, they welcome the challenges.
Cultivated community - the unbroken spirit recognizes they are stronger together with others. They celebrate the success of others. They never resent the success of others.
No limits - the unbroken spirit refuses to accept limitations. Because they know the moment they do, they are then broken. They are willing to take calculated risks to go beyond any limit imposed by others or by their own circumstances.

The unbroken spirit within us is a transformational quality, giving empowerment over adversities that challenge us throughout life. By your recognition of these seven actions within yourself, you are well on your way to an awakening of an unbroken spirit that will strengthen your inner resilience. That is powerful beyond measure!

As William Ernest Henley said, "Strong is the soul that is beaten but unbroken."

Be inspired! Inspire others!