Adversity makes you stronger? Ya well guess what….From the age of 4 when my mom had her first major stroke… So began my journey of growing up with fear and that only grew bigger and developed into the FEAR of change. There were too many times that change and fear combined had paralyzed me. I knew “change” meant the end of one thing…. And I never embraced that it also meant the start of something new.

I recently heard someone very special tell me that the saying “God never gives you more than you can handle” is a lie.  I’ve learned it’s what you do with it, who you turn to, who you rest your hope and belief on, and the choices you make daily.  But I never really understood that until now.

I grew up believing that “no matter how bad you think it is, someone’s got it worse”.  My dad said this often to me growing up.  It’s good to be a fighter.  It’s good to pick your chin up and move forward.  You don’t give up. While this quote is undoubtedly true, the fact remains that you must honor and acknowledge what it is that is ailing you.  You can only bury it and sweep it under the carpet for so long before it finds its way back and challenges your strength.

So sure…. For every hardship we endure in this life, one hopes that they can grow and learn from it so that those skills can not only apply to future circumstances but can also be used to help support others and transfer to other situations… Making you stronger.

Adversity makes you stronger?

Maybe…

It does have POTENTIAL to make you stronger based on how you handle it and how you move forward from it. It can also bring you to your knees and debilitate you forever.  Sounds like a simple and positive spin but it takes a LOT OF TIME and a LOT OF INNER STRENGTH to get there.

I’ve had many many supports throughout my life get me to where I am today. Including and probably THE MOST important supports I have ever had; my parents.  Now with them both gone, my learning curve the past 2 years on HOW to move forward without them has been incredible.

I’ve mentioned it before.  It’s a constant battle and it’s in my opinion one of the biggest and most challenging battles ever…. life and death.  A topic hard for many people to talk about and a topic that’s on my mind every single day from the moment I wake up.

My inner strength has shaped in a way that I never knew would unfold because no one is ever prepared for life and death.  They are matters completely out of our control.

So when creating a picture in YOUR MIND for “INNER STRENGTH”……

Make sure you have a “Fight Song” to play.  These are the words that you can stick inside your brain to get you through it.  WHERE EVER YOU ARE.

These words in particular feel like they were written for me… And that’s how your “Fight Song” should sound too.
FIGHT SONG

By Rachel Platten

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xo1VInw-SKc

Like a small boat
On the ocean
Sending big waves
Into motion
Like how a single word
Can make a heart open
I might only have one match
But I can make an explosion
And all those things I didn’t say
Wrecking balls inside my brain
I will scream them loud tonight
Can you hear my voice this time?
This is my fight song
Take back my life song
Prove I’m alright song
My power’s turned on
Starting right now I’ll be strong
I’ll play my fight song
And I don’t really care if nobody else believes
‘Cause I’ve still got a lot of fight left in me
Losing friends and I’m chasing sleep
Everybody’s worried about me
In too deep
Say I’m in too deep (in too deep)
And it’s been two years
I miss my home
But there’s a fire burning in my bones
Still believe
Yeah, I still believe
And all those things I didn’t say
Wrecking balls inside my brain
I will scream them loud tonight
Can you hear my voice this time?
This is my fight song
Take back my life song
Prove I’m alright song
My power’s turned on
Starting right now I’ll be strong
I’ll play my fight song
And I don’t really care if nobody else believes
‘Cause I’ve still got a lot of fight left in me
A lot of fight left in me
Like a small boat
On the ocean
Sending big waves
Into motion
Like how a single word
Can make a heart open
I might only have one match
But I can make an explosion
This is my fight song (Hey!)
Take back my life song (Hey!)
Prove I’m alright song (Hey!)
My power’s turned on
Starting right now I’ll be strong (I’ll be strong)
I’ll play my fight song
And I don’t really care if nobody else believes
‘Cause I’ve still got a lot of fight left in me
No I’ve still got a lot of fight left in me