Resilience Built in Community, Solitude & Self-Reflection

As I continue to stand firmly on my 2025 Resilience Soapbox, let’s talk about one truth that’s often overlooked: resilience doesn’t thrive in isolation. It’s fortified through community and solitude—two seemingly opposite forces that, together, offer the strength to rise and rebuild.

Resilience isn’t built in isolation; it grows in the embrace of community.

Over the years, I’ve co-created or been accepted into spaces where Women, most often Black Women—and yes, sometimes men—can gather, breathe, and simply be. These gatherings, often informal but deeply intentional, are spaces of liberation. They’re places where we can shed the masks we wear in the outside world and be fully seen by others who understand the weight we carry.

In these circles, we laugh, cry, and share stories over food and wine. We speak truths we’re often forced to swallow in professional spaces or around those who don’t share our experiences.

These aren’t just conversations; they’re acts of collective healing. When one of us speaks their pain aloud, it’s met with nods of recognition, with me too. That simple act of validation is transformative. It reminds us that our struggles aren’t isolated, that the burdens we carry are often systemic and not reflections of personal failure.

My extended community and 'chosen' family have been my sanctuary, where I’ve drawn strength in my weakest moments. It’s where I’ve seen resilience in action—not as a solitary endeavor, but as a shared, reciprocal practice.

We lift each other up, not out of obligation, but because we understand the transformative power of being lifted. In these sacred spaces, we’re reminded that we don’t have to carry the weight alone.

These gatherings don’t follow any formal ritual, but they offer something rare: safety, belonging, and the radical affirmation of our humanity. They are where we replenish our strength, face the world again, and remember that no matter how heavy the load, we’re not carrying it alone.

The Case for Solitude & Self-Reflection

But even in the safety of community, some burdens require solitude to unravel.

In those moments, I’ve turned to books for sanctuary. They’ve surrounded me like old friends, offering solace and lending words to truths I hadn’t yet uncovered.

Through solitude, I found space to reflect, absorb, and connect—not just with myself but with the voices of Black thought leaders like James Baldwin, Audre Lorde, and bell hooks.

Recently, while reading All the White Friends I Couldn’t Keep by Andre Henry, I felt an undeniable spark of connection. His reflections on Black rage as both valid and hopeful reminded me that my personal struggles are part of a larger, shared story. I saw myself in his heartbreak, in his frustration, and in his decision to prioritize self-preservation over maintaining connections that no longer served him.

He spoke about reclaiming space, setting boundaries, and refusing to shrink for the comfort of others. His words deeply affirmed the choices I’ve made—to walk away from draining relationships, honor my anger as self-respect, and protect my joy as an act of defiance.

Solitude gave me the quiet I needed to sit with his words, but the experience felt communal—a bridge between my private reflections and the shared wisdom of others navigating similar challenges. It affirmed that resilience is cultivated in stillness but ultimately thrives through connection.

A Life Rooted in Resilience

This LinkedIn article is just an excerpt from my extended blog post on YvonneJackson.com entitled: Healing Words: Resilience Rooted in Community and Solitude.

I encourage you to read the full piece, but for now, I want to leave you with this:

Resilience isn’t the absence of struggle—it’s the quiet resolve to rise and transform brokenness into strength.

Know that resilience is cultivated in solitude, fortified through community, and deepened by self-reflection. It’s a bridge—connecting pain to healing, isolation to belonging, and uncertainty to clarity.

Through moments of solitude, I’ve unraveled my burdens and connected with the wisdom of others. In the safety of community, I’ve found strength, validation, and hope. These practices have taught me that resilience isn’t a solo endeavor; it thrives when we allow ourselves to rest, reflect, and reconnect.

Life’s challenges haven’t disappeared, but I approach them now with intention—drawing on the stillness of solitude and the collective strength of community to find joy, even in the chaos.

By sharing this piece of my journey, my hope is that you’ll discover the power of resilience in your own. Because even in our darkest moments, light is waiting to be found—and the journey toward it is where growth truly begins.

If any of this resonates with you, there’s more where that came from.

You can take the first step toward reclaiming your joy and purpose, through my Resilience Reset? course, speaking engagements, or leadership coaching, I’m here to help you move forward with clarity and strength—on your terms.

I’m Yvonne Jackson, founder of SocialEDG and creator of Joyful Equity?. My mission is to help women and changemakers navigate chaos, reclaim their energy, and create lives full of clarity, strength, and joy—even in the toughest times.

Let’s build resilience, together.

Email: [email protected]

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