Give me the strength lightly to bear my joys and sorrows.
Give me the strength to make my love fruitful in service.
Give me the strength never to disown the poor or bend my knees before insolent might.
Give me the strength to raise my mind high above daily trifles.
And give me the strength to surrender my strength to thy will with love.
Victor Frankl in Man’s Search for Meaning challenges us to think about life in a way that is far different from what we read and watch in the media. He says, “We had to learn ourselves, and, furthermore, we had to reach the despairing men, that it did not really matter what we expected from life, but rather what life expected from us. . . . Life ultimately means taking the responsibility to find the right answers to its problems, and to fulfill the task, which it constantly sets for each individual. Pp 85
NOTE: Our lives are not identical but they are similar. We each face moments of challenge. Some face burdens that make me marvel at their inner toughness and how they managed. I think of my grandmother (nonna), widowed with eleven children still at home. There was no welfare in those days. Yet, she knew her responsibility was to serve and protect her eleven children. To her credit, all eleven grew up to be productive citizens. We can’t choose what happens to us, we can choose how we respond to it. Stay strong.
If you think you can – you can !
If you think you can not – you can not !
And either way……..you are right !
NOTE: Once we decide to trust ourselves we unlock our storehouse of strength and confidence. No one else has the key to unlock it. It has to come from within each of us. It takes courage to trust oneself. Much like a young bird leaving the nest for the first time. It takes courage to believe it can fly. Unlock your door and fly. You know you can.
“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.” Maya Angelou
NOTE: Life challenges to become stronger, more resilient, and more adaptable. When we rise over and over again, we gain strength, confidence, resilience, and the ability to endure the toughest of times. The base foundation for gaining strength and resilience is the meaning in our life. When we have meaning in our life we can accomplish most any goal and conquer most every challenge. What meaning in your life drives you today?
NOTE: There is no easy way. Once we accept that fact, life takes a decided turn for the better. It focuses our mind on being strong, patient, and resilient. All of which, like a hardy soup, combine to give us endurance to tackle the toughest of challenges. You’ve already got the stuff to endure. Face your challenges with courage, hope, and the confidence that you are tougher than anything they can toss at you.
“Write your Sad times in Sand,
Write your Good times in Stone.”
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Disappointments happen. Shake them off, wish them a hearty farewell and start again. Each time you rise you gain strength, you become more resilient, you become invincible.
