Finding Resilience and Growth in Uncertainty

With our world turned upside down and fear, uncertainty, and frustration swirling all around us, it has never been more important to focus on what we DO control while letting go of what we don’t. Despite the challenging time we are facing, each day is still a gift and every moment precious. Though we don’t control what happens, it is precisely in such times that we must remember we DO control what we do, what we choose, where we focus, and who we ARE. It is in times like these when kindness, gratitude, energy, and a calm, patient perspective serves not only ourselves, but everyone we care about. 

As a professional speaker, I’ve now seen every single event I had booked over the next couple of months cancel. So, like virtually everyone I know, this pandemic has affected me personally, professionally, and financially. Yet, two key beliefs not only sustain my spirit today, but lifts it and helps me deal with the fear and doubt that abounds right now and instead move forward step by step with faith and hope.

The first is my unstoppable belief that within every adversity is planted the seed of an equivalent or greater benefit. In other words, the toughest challenges we’ve faced and made our way through, are the very things from which we’ve grown the most. I need only think of one of my greatest heroes, my daughter Jenna, to KNOW this is true.

A few years ago, Jenna was jolted with an immense, almost unbearable tragedy. For a time, the pain and fear consumed her and us, her family who love her so dearly. As her dad, I desperately wanted to fix it, to take away the agony. But I learned that I couldn’t. The indescribable sadness and sense of loss she felt were part of her healing journey. Yet, even in the midst of the darkest moment of her life, she made me see that I still had a choice … I could focus on fear or faith. I could spend every waking moment worrying about her, or could believe that she is a strong, bright, powerful woman who would find her way again to joy. 

Today, she shines brighter than ever. It took time, and for many whose lives are being turned upside down right now, it will undoubtedly also be a journey with many obstacles. Yet, I now know what she gained from that horrible tragedy…I now see the seed of benefit that was indeed planted and has now sprouted despite the enormous adversity she faced. I now know that Jenna can handle ANYTHING. She is stronger, wiser, and now blessed with a more indomitable spirit than ever before. I never would have chosen to have her learn these lessons in this way, but nonetheless, the strength and understanding she has gained will be with her forever. 

We will find our way through this, just like Jenna. And, though it’s tough to see now, we WILL grow from this and rise stronger, wiser, and better than before.

The second belief that helps to lift my spirit during difficult times was beautifully expressed by the legendary Test Pilot, Chuck Yeager. More than anything else he loved to do, Yeager relished fishing for the golden trout. These are very rare and are only found lakes above 9,000 feet up in Desolation Valley above Lake Tahoe. When asked what he would do when he became too old to get up to the high mountain lakes, he paused for a moment and said simply, “I’ll hike up to 7,000 feet and fish for the rainbow trout. I’ll do the next best thing.

Right now, many of us are blocked from reaching our favored destinations… from getting up to the golden trout. It is easy and natural to focus on what we have lost or what we feel we may lose. But we still have a choice to fish for the rainbows. We can go for the next best thing. As W. Mitchell taught us (a man who became one of the greatest motivational speakers of all time AFTER he was burned over 75% of his body AND paralyzed from the waist down): 

“Before my accidents, I could do about 10,000 things. Now I can do 9,000. I can spend my life worrying about the 1,000 I lost, or making the most of the 9,000 I have!”

Our spirits can never be beaten as long as we remember that we always have the choice of how we respond. We always have the choice to be grateful. We always have the choice to be kind…to be resourceful…to choose faith over fear. Though sadness can be a healing part of our journey, we can still choose the ‘next best thing!’

We can still remember to enjoy every precious moment!

Please be wise…wash those hands, nourish your immune system, think of others and keep that safe distance physically, but stay close spiritually, and we will find our way!

?Brian D. Biro, America's Breakthrough Coach, is a bestselling author and keynote speaker. To learn more about Brian and the virtual programs he is offering, visit https://www.brianbirovirtual.com/.