Surviving the Tough Times—A Resilience “Pep Talk”

Every triumph begins with purposeful direction.

Right now we are experiencing uncharted territory. Life has changed drastically, and for many people that causes stress, unease, and frustration. But I have learned throughout the course of my life that in the face of great challenge, every triumph begins with a purposeful direction and a solid set of beliefs.

Today our collective goal is to tap into and build our resilience muscle. Just as an athlete trains to adapt his/her body to act and perform in certain ways, we too must learn that strength lies in adapting.

As a result, I am sharing my personal “resilience pep talk.” It’s a short set of rules I created for myself to turn to whenever the going gets rough and I’m looking for guidance. Perhaps, you’ll find a statement or two that will help you navigate these uncertain times, or if you’re up for the challenge, create a pep talk of your own.

I believe life isn’t about what you have, what you do or how famous or popular you become. It isn’t jealousy or greed, but open arms and kindness. It’s about how you use your unique gifts to serve the world.

I believe that in life we are all tested, and difficult times can be viewed in two ways—“Why me?” or “What can I learn?” With that in mind, I strive to embody the vigor of the most dedicated student.  

I believe in learning the facts, but equally not losing sight of the true bottom line—in every dark moment, I know when we are willing, there will always be sparks of light.

I trust that I will learn a new lesson with every challenge placed in my path. I accept that sometimes I will try and fail. I know in other times—I will try and succeed. Keeping my mind on the positives will make life smoother than counting and recounting the negatives.

When I am in misery, I will aim to make sure it’s only a temporary place. I allow myself the grace to grieve and the nudge to move on.

I believe an optimistic outlook is always better than a pessimistic one.

I believe in listening to your body—it’ll tell you what it needs.

I believe good things happen for those who consistently pursue their goals. Life is a journey and if you are sitting around waiting for answers, solutions or to just “get there,” you’re going to be waiting around a long time. Remember to work hard, stay patient and never give up.

I believe that sometimes you have to give up parts of yourself to move forward and you have to learn to appreciate the person you become. It’s not always easy, especially if it’s not the person you envisioned. At the end of the day, you are still you—in the same body, same skin and you must learn to accept that.

I believe comparing yourself to others will get you nowhere. I strive to keep top of mind, that whether things are going well or going badly, “this too shall pass.” Life is a cycle and sometimes you are on top of the pile, sometimes at the bottom, but you are always moving forward no matter how it seems.

I am guided by faith and know that when I allow myself to get out of my comfort zone, and stay the course, life’s biggest and most valuable lessons will appear.

I trust in the power of looking forward, not backward and in the tenacity of never saying never.

Ultimately, I believe the key to success is pushing past self-doubt, through adversity and change—whether in everyday situations or life changing circumstances. It’s saying, “I will survive. I will come back stronger, smarter and more determined. I have the power to surpass my biggest hopes and achieve my wildest dreams.”

Tricia Downing is recognized as a pioneer in the sport of women’s paratriathlon—the sport of triathlon for athletes with disabilities. She is the first female wheelchair racer to complete an Iron distance triathlon—1.2-mile swim, 112-mile bike, 26.2-mile run. She has competed in triathlon at all distances and both nationally and internationally.

She is currently a member of the U.S. National Shooting Sports Team, and is a 2016 Paralympian. Tricia holds Master’s degrees in both sport management and disability studies and is a professional speaker, resiliency “roll” model and author. She wrote and published her memoir Cycle of Hope in 2010 and published her first novel in August of 2018. She lives in Denver, Colorado. Visit her website at: www.triciadowning.com