Do your problems define you?
Or are you defined by what you’ve done to overcome those problems?
It is my hope that you’ve answered ‘yes’, to the second question.
I believe that one of the biggest challenges that you and I experience is that we at times label ourselves by our problems. Let me give you an example. Let’s say that your marriage has failed, do you call yourself a divorced mother of three children? I hope not!
I say that because you are more than your title. If you are a mother with three children and separated from your husband, you are really a loving mother who can show your children the inner strength you’ve been endowed with. You can be a loving mother who despite the challenges can show what it takes to be classy and optimistic by not putting down your children’s father.
While this is a just a simple example as I wanted to give you some insight as to what a resilient person can do. By the way this is a real-life example of one of the people I’ve interviewed over the past 20 plus years.
You are up for this new way of viewing your problems, aren’t you?
Good one Tim, reading this post made me realise that we sing from the same hymn book.
In this age of entitlement, too many people use their “problems” real or perceived to define their roles as victims and use them to rationalise their lack of effort to improve their situations.
Fortunately there are a few people like your divorced mother of 3, who do something about it and move on.
Thanks Peter. Your comments have reinforced why I’ve spent these past years interviewing people like this resilient lady and learning from her. All the best!