When My Strength Became My Weakness

Hey there, resilience warriors! Pull up a chair, grab your favorite beverage, and let's chat about something that might just blow your mind: the resilience paradox.

You know, for years, I wore my resilience like a badge of honor. People would say, "Wow, you're so resilient! You bounce back from anything!" And I'd beam with pride, thinking I had this whole life thing figured out. Oh, how wrong I was!

Picture this: me, the human equivalent of one of those inflatable punching bags. You know the ones - you knock 'em down, and boing! They pop right back up, grinning that goofy painted-on smile. That was me, bobbing and weaving through life's punches like I was channeling Muhammad Ali himself.

Crisis at work? No problem! Last-minute demands? Bring it on! I was the queen of the pivot, the duchess of the dodge. Nothing could touch me... or so I thought.

But here's the kicker, folks. While I was out there putting on my one-woman show of invincibility, something sinister was brewing beneath the surface. All that mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion? Those negative thoughts swirling in my head? I shoved them down deep, focusing instead on my next fancy footwork.

It's like my internal voice was screaming, "Mayday! Mayday!" But instead of listening, I cranked up the volume on my "I've got this" playlist and kept on dancing.

Then, one day, it hit me. My trusty resilience started to feel... not so trusty. Those nimble pivots became clumsy stumbles. My lightning-fast reflexes? More like molasses in January. I was taking on too much, too fast, setting myself up for a spectacular face-plant.

You see, what I didn't realize was that chronic stress is like kryptonite to resilience. It eats away at your superpowers, bit by bit, until suddenly you're wondering where all your strength went. And let me tell you, when clinical depression joined the party, it was like trying to run a marathon in cement shoes.

The final straw? When even the tiniest hiccup felt like a full-blown catastrophe. That's when I knew something had to give.

Here's the truth, my friends: resilience is amazing, but it's not bulletproof. It's not about never falling down; it's about learning how to get back up - and knowing when to stay down for a bit to catch your breath.

So, if you're out there thinking your resilience makes you invincible, take it from me: it doesn't. It's a tool, not a shield. Use it wisely, nurture it, and for Pete's sake, listen when it tells you it needs a break.

Remember, even the bounciest punching bag needs to be reinflated sometimes. Don't let your strength become your weakness. Stay tuned for my next post, where we'll explore the 5 keys to unlocking your resilience - the healthy way!

Until then, be kind to yourselves, resilience warriors. You've got this... AND it's okay if sometimes you don't.

#Resilience #SelfAwareness #MindsetShift