Are you an “overcomer” or an “underachiever”?
I often wonder why some people manage to overcome obstacles, defy difficulties and attain their aspirations, despite the odds; while others succumb to setbacks, pucker under pressures, and allow their dreams to dwindle. In addition, those who start life well do not always succeed; and those who succeed do not always start life well.
What makes the difference?
Although there are multiple factors, I found that those who overcome to reach their dreams are often more resilient than those who are overwhelmed by adversities in life.
What is resilience? What does it look like in real life?
Instead of giving you the definition of resilience, I want to share with you glimpses of resilience in real life, through stories. In each story, I will highlight the attribute of resilience illustrated and the lesson I learnt about cultivating resilience. Some of these stories might seem trivial and insignificant; but like Rome, resilience is not built in one day. Every effort to cultivate resilience counts. No effort is too trivial or too insignificant. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way.” Similarly, we can learn great lessons from small stories.
There is no age limit in cultivating resilience. We can all learn to be resilient at any stage of our life. It is never too late nor too early. However, the younger we start, the better place we are in. As a paediatrician, my primary passion is to see all children given the opportunity to be resilient, to live an abundant and fulfilled life.
I want to emphasise that resilience is not minimising challenges; it is not avoiding mistakes; it is not learning to control; it is not becoming competent or perfect. Resilience is a life journey, a journey best travel with someone. There is an African proverb that says, “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.”
My purpose for this blog is to take you on a journey with me. I hope that as you come aboard, you will discover your own resilience, learn how to be more resilient, and help to cultivate resilience in others – those who are willing to travel with you, and those who are within your sphere of influence.
Real Life Resilience 