Quotes about Resilience

During difficult times I often turn to a gospel song called "Stand." In it, songwriter Donnie McClurkin sings, "What do you do when you've done all you can, and it seems like it's never enough? What do you give when you've given your all, and it seems like you can't make it through?" The answer lies in McClurkin's simple refrain: "You just stand.

Even as an adult, as I tried to sleep, my mind was conditioned to stay in a constant state of arousal, prepared for attack.

The true power of staying in the now means that you resist projecting what might happen in the future or lamenting past mistakes.

Everything that happened to you can be used to strengthen you, if you allow it, if you're open to it.

Power to destroy, they also have the power to heal.

I will just create, and if it works, it works, and if it doesn't, I'll create something else. I don't have any limitations on what I think I could do or be.

My highest achievement: never shutting down my heart. Even in my darkest moments—through sexual abuse, a pregnancy at 14, lies and betrayals—I remained faithful, hopeful, and willing to see the best in people, regardless of whether they were showing me their worst. I continued to believe that no matter how hard the climb, there is always a way to let in a sliver of light to illuminate the path forward.

I know for sure that when you remove the fear, the answer you've been searching for comes into focus. And as you walk into what you fear, you should know for sure that your deepest struggle can, if you're willing and open, produce your greatest strength.

The most terrible thing about it is not that it breaks one's heart—hearts are made to be broken—but that it turns one's heart to stone.

A poet can survive everything but a misprint.

I have got to make everything that has happened to me good for me

It doesn't matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop