Resilience is what allows you to cope with life’s ups and downs. Making something worthwhile out of painful times helps your resilience grow. Starting a support group to help others, or making something creative out of bad experiences by, for example, writing, painting or singing, can help you express pain and get through hard times.
“Nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength.”
~ Saint Francis de Sales
“When we long for life without difficulties, remind us that oaks grow strong in contrary winds
and diamonds are made under pressure (Peter Marshall ).”
One of life’s mysteries is that the most important lessons we learn rise out of our most difficult circumstances. The lessons are transformative and change our lives for the better, we become stronger and wiser..
Exercising throughout the week is important because it helps you build up strength, as well as strengthen specific areas of your body, including your bones and heart. “Better cardiovascular health helps lower your blood pressure and decreases inflammation,” says Dr. Chicorelli. “Strengthening your bones also helps with osteoporosis.” Working out brings on brain-boosting benefits and boosts, too. “We can sometimes forget that the brain is a muscle, and that when we’re exercising, it’s good for our brain,” Dr. Chicorelli notes. “For example, we know that people who exercise live longer and have less risk of developing dementia.”
According to the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), the ideal workout regimen balances cardiovascular (heart) exercise and strength training. Cardio exercise can help with weight loss, protect against Alzheimer’s disease, lift your mood and more. Strength-training exercises build muscle, boost your metabolism and increase your endurance, among other benefits. Making sure your weekly workout plan includes the right balance of both kinds of exercise can lead to significant health benefits, Dr. Chicorelli says.
“Hope is endurance. Hope is holding on and going on and trusting in the Lord (Michael Novak).”
To persevere and endure during the tough moments builds our strength. Hope is the ingredient that fuels our endurance. We go forward knowing a better tomorrow awaits. Pray for guidance, strength, and the courage to keep on walking during the tough times.
It can’t be emphasized enough: engaging in physical activity is the single most important thing you can do to maintain mobility and independence, no matter your age or your health status. It can help you control your weight. It’s the key to keeping your muscles and bones strong, your joints working properly, your heart healthy, and your metabolism revved. The more you move, the better your strength and balance will be, and the less likely you will be to fall or lose the ability to perform basic daily functions. And that’s on top of all the other health benefits of regular exercise, such as reduced risks of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers. Exercise even has positive effects on mood and may help improve cognitive function.
Source: Harvard Newsletter: Healthbeat
“Tough times go away, tough people do not (Walter Payton).” Every human faces tough times. They are part of the fabric of human life. Much like the ocean tides tough times roll in; they also give way to the changing tide and roll away. Endure the tough times with strength, resilience, and dignity. You are tougher than the tough times. The good times are waiting for you. Hang in there. Never quit.
Physical or occupational therapists can be very helpful in teaching you how to modify activities and accomplish daily tasks more easily. But there are simple things you can do for yourself, starting today. Here are five of them:
Source: Harvard healthbeat newsletter
Experts define physical fitness as “one’s ability to execute daily activities with optimal performance, endurance, and strength with the management of disease, fatigue, and stress and reduced sedentary behavior.” This description goes beyond being able to run quickly or lift heavy weights. . . .Being physically fit depends on how well a person fulfills each of the components of being healthy. When it comes to fitness, these components are:
What have you lost that’s made you stronger? Early in my career I took on an organization I felt was purposely biased against blacks. I tried to implement changes and was told I was dangerous and fired. It was tough being fired with five young children to support. It made me stronger, more resilient and more deeply committed to social justice. Use losses to make you stronger and more resilient. Don’t let the dark forces win.
