What keeps us holding on despite the odds, the naysayers, the negative thoughts that seep into our minds? I believe that the traits of grit, determination, tenacity, willpower help us to persevere despite our fear, our current reality, or feelings of loss. Creating a mindset that fosters the power to choose our response to any given situation, allows us to recognize our courage as we realize that choice, change and the power of YES! lies within all of us. We get to choose: our mindset, our internal dialogue, to make perspective shifts, to reframe our challenges, to change our self-talk, thoughts, feelings and actions. This promotes the traits of grit, determination, tenacity, and willpower, This mindset inspires you to tap into your authentic confidence and resilience as your fighter within comes out swinging! to promote empowered action! -would omit this- would that work??
Developing this mindset fostered me to take empowered action, when I felt that my ability to succeed was being questioned. After my older sister was invited to join the High School’s National Honors Society, my mom told me that it was okay if I was not asked to join The National Honors Society, like my sister had been. It felt to me like she was assuming I wouldn’t be able to be part of this society, because of my history of development delays and academic challenges in elementary school secondary to my health issues, and did not want me to create unrealistic expectations for myself.
I said to her, “I am not even in High School yet, don’t count me out before I even try, and I definitely will be a part of The National Honors Society.”
In that moment, I began to create a mindset that fostered the traits of grit, tenacity, willpower, determination which brought out my fighter within. That inspired me into action. With conviction, perseverance, and relentless diligence, I made my desires a reality. I have done this countless times since, when facing both health and life obstacles. I will share more stories throughout this chapter showing how harnessing these attributes I fostered my fighter within, and with strength, courage, and conviction empowered action was taken time and time again. This created a resilient response through each obstacle there were opportunities to grow, evolve, and transform.
I invite you to read aloud and keep these mantras close by:
When you think that you can’t deal with one more failure, setback, diagnosis, obstacle, defeat; connect with your fighter within to ignite your inner light to get you through even the darkest of nights.
When you think that you can’t take one more step… you can.
When you feel like you only have one beat left…the rhythm will begin again.
Every time that you think you can’t take one more disappointment…you can.
You’ve got a fighter within!
Add Hope, Cope and Deal here – support squad is in problem solving chaptery
