You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it. ―Maya Angelou
Welcome to this week’s edition of The Source.
Adversity can also be the seed of REbirth. Pain can be a powerful motivator. Sometimes in the wake of a tragedy, trauma, or unexpected disappointment, we can dig deep—deeper than we ever imagined—and step beyond our preconceived limitations.
Our capacity to rebound after we’ve been dealt a blow is called resilience. And those who embrace their sacred powers and practice healing modalities such as meditation or energy work seem to recover more quickly.
Studies show that those practicing these life tools in the face of tragedy reach out more readily for support, encouragement, and treatment, breaking the negative cycle of chronic stress and relentless anxiety.
As the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche wrote in an 1888 essay Twilight of the Idols, “That which does not kill us, makes us stronger.” More than one hundred years later, pop singer Kelly Clarkson echoed Nietzsche’s sentiment in her hit about thriving after heartbreak—“Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You).”
In fact, modern psychological research has now developed a term for those who defy post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), get stronger, and step into their power after a loss or traumatic incident. The scientific community now refers to it as post-traumatic growth (PTG).
REbirth = Resiliency
This powerful shift in biological stress response has been linked to increased wound healing, improved relationships with those who lend support, a crystalized sense of appreciation for life, and deeper gratitude for those in it.
In many cases, those experiencing the trauma raise their pain threshold, allowing them to be stronger and even more resilient in the face of additional traumas.
I experienced this in my youth after my mother died unexpectedly. In the depth of my pain and confusion, I rationalized, “Nothing this bad could ever happen to me again, no matter what!” That gave me a spark of courage to risk looking foolish, try new things when the pressure was on, and take bold or unpopular steps. I was infused with the strength of PTG one more time in the aftermath of 9/11, after those I had worked with in Tower Two of the World Trade Center lost their lives.
You Are Being Called
As you cultivate your daily practice, you will see that defining moments like these are heavenly invitations from the Universe to take ownership of your life, step into your power, and leap into your REbirth.
Eleanor Roosevelt reinforced this sentiment when she said, “You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.’ You must do the thing you think you cannot do.”
Way down deep in your heart, do you feel yourself being called? Are you willing to step into your best version?
Join me – as together we step into our REbirth!!! The best is yet to come. All you need is trust!! Courage will quickly follow.
Keep meditating & remember to follow me on social media!!! Peace. –davidji
