We’re now familiar with the concept of resilience but until we’ve actually seen examples of resilience in action, it’s hard to put it into practice.
Your life story is inextricably linked to your level of resilience. The challenges you faced, the posture you maintained, the toughness, flexibility and intelligence you demonstrated.
And you’re writing that story in this very moment.
Will you remain stoic? Will you respond skilfully? Will you keep going, no matter what?
The stories of great athletes, artists, adventurers, entrepreneurs and everyday people who have overcome adversity before you, are there to empower you during the hard times.
Here are 10 powerful examples of resilience to turn to for solace and for inspiration when you need it:
1. Viktor Frankl. Through suffering and loss in the German concentration camp Auschwitz, Austrian Neurologist, Viktor Frankl observed the differences between those prisoners who survived and those who didn’t. A survivor himself, he came to believe man’s deepest desire is to search for meaning and purpose.
2. J.K. Rowling. Divorced and struggling to feed her family with the little money she received in benefits, Joanne Rowling persevered with her idea for the Harry Potter books. The manuscript was rejected dozens of times before publisher Bloomsbury bought it. Her resilience paid off as she went on to win multiple awards and sold more than 500 million copies, creating the best-selling book series in history.
3. Lionel Messi. One ofthe greatest footballers to ever live, Leo Messi was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency at age 11. His parents were unable to cover the medical costs, but the sporting director of FC Barcelona heard about his troubles and arranged a trial. A determined Messi made the team and soon earned enough money to cover his treatments and kickstart an incredible career.
4. Nimsdai Purja. The fame and fortune of mountaineering is typically reserved for Westerners, but fearless Nepali mountaineer Nimsdai Purja completed a seemingly impossible quest by becoming the first man in history to summit all 14 of the worlds 8,000m peaks in seven months.
5. Gertrude Ederle. At a time when women still had few opportunities in sport, 19 year old Gertrude Ederle, battled harsh, choppy waters to become the first woman to swim the english channel – and she did it faster than any man had prior. Her record of fourteen and a half hours stood from 1926 until 1950.
6. Kyle Maynard. The epitome of resilience, Kyle Maynard was born with a rare condition known as congenital amputation. Despite his disability he has pursued a life of sports and adventure with great intensity. With numerous achievements across multiple disciplines under his belt, on January 15, 2012, Maynard became the first quadruple amputee to climb Mount Kilimanjaro without assistance, by crawling all 19,340 feet in just 10 days.
7. James Dyson. The British designer made no less than 5,127 different tweaks and modifications to his bagless vacuum cleaner between 1979 and 1984. With early rejections by British retailers and little in the way of revenue, his wife’s income helped keep the family afloat. Persistence paid off and his innovations helped to revolutionise the industry, making him a billionaire in the process.
8. Florence Nightingale. A true war hero, Florence Nightingale received a letter from the Secretary of War asking her to look after British soldiers in Crimea, during the Crimean War. When she first arrived in November 1854, the army doctors wanted nothing to do with her, but she persisted through terrible conditions to get the hospital clean. She was welcomed home a hero, and to this day she is recognised for completely transforming the quality of care in war and for improving healthcare all over the world.
9. Malala Yousafzai. At the tender age of 11, Malala Yousafzai wrote an anonymous diary about the conditions in north-west Pakistan, under Taliban rule. In the diary, she talked about her desire to stay in education, and how girls have the right to go to school. The diary touched people all over the world and she became well known for championing her rights. Angered by this, the Taliban shot her. She survived the attack and has continued to campaign for girls rights, becoming the youngest person ever to win the Nobel Peace Prize at age 14.
10. Tyson Fury. Undisputed heavyweight boxing champion of the world, ‘The Gypsy King’ has battled anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts throughout his career. He’s gone from the peak of his abilities in the gym and the ring, to the depths of drunken despair. He’s been knocked down many times during his 32 professional fights and still found the will to pick himself up and win. As reigning title holder and ambassador for mental health, his story is an encouraging one.
These examples of resilience are rousing, but at times, can be hard to relate. Most of us are dealing with the trials and tribulations of everyday life, not a snow storm on a mountain peak.
Our challenges feel smaller, less significant and there’s little in the way of celebration if we succeed.
But resilience is dealing with what life throws at YOU. You have a unique set of abilities, weaknesses, dreams and circumstances. Goals you want to chase and obstacles you have to face.
Focus in on what matters, edge towards your goals, help those beside you and solve the problems in front of you. Don’t lose energy by comparing yourself to others, but rather employ the attitudes, values and principles that have helped them along.
Have you enjoyed our 10 powerful examples of resilience? You may also enjoy our list of resilience quotes and books on resilience.