Life never comes with navigation, but everyone goes through twists and turns, be it the manifestation of everyday challenges or traumatic events with a more lifelong impact, like the death of a loved one, a life-altering accident, or a severe ailment. While living in this uncertain realm is not a walk in the park, but each of us has to take dangerous rides, be it merry-go-rounds of dilemmas or hoopla of self-doubts. 

However, each of the life occurrences affects individuals distinctively, sprouting a unique flood of thoughts, and intense emotions, drowning us. Yet, people who mastered the art of resiliency can defeat adversities, coming up triumphant. But only if mustering resilience was this much easy!  

Brian Hunter, one headstrong soul to whom life has not been merciful, serves as an epitome of grit, explained that resilience is all about adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, and tragedy—such as family and relationship problems, or severe health crises. “While resilience empowers you to ‘bounce back” from these difficult circumstances, it also proffers you profound personal growth,” he said. 

Adopted when he was merely three months old, Hunter’s life, too, had its fair share of mess. But it is his optimism and perseverance that make him victorious in life—growing out of childhood trauma at the hands abusive household, the strained relationship with his foster parents, sexual and physical exploitation, existential crises, financial circumstances, and much more—empowering him to take the lead of his own life.  

Brian Hunter clarified that building resilience does not imply that a person will never experience distress ever in life. In fact, resilient individuals will endure extreme adversity or trauma in their lives, becoming vulnerable to emotional pain and stress. But in the end, the road to resilience is to embrace those anguish, carry your emotional baggage and cope with everything life throws your way, bit by bit. 

However, while you embark on the journey of life, you may frequently find yourself stuck in the vicious cycle of negative thinking.  But only if you deviate your energy from thinking negatively to thinking optimistically, life crises can help you understand your true purpose in life. Hunter explained that by unleashing your purpose in life, you could make your life worth living. You realize that you need to do something significant to leave your mark on the world; this will, in return, spur you to achieve impossibles. 

It may sound ironic; however, restricting yourself from feeling negative emotions is the definite cause of not being able to become resilient in life. The more you suppress your emotions of frustration, hatred, failure, agony, or suffering, the more feeble you will become. While the suppression gives you temporary happiness, the accumulation of emotion within your psyche necessitating an outlet brings you to the verge of existential crises.  But, it is in your hand to rejuvenate your mind, liberating it from all the negative thoughts.  

“Learning to embrace life while jumping over hurdles, stumbling, cleaning up cuts and bruises to bounce back up is all that encapsulates resiliency. I acknowledge that I’m fallible. I screw up sometimes. Yet to sustain my integrity, I embrace the hot mess of my life, correct what I can, then let it go. The value of resiliency is becoming aware, learning from the past, and not dragging it through the rest of my life. It is to consider that each of the unfortunate circumstances of my life adds feathers to my wing, making me soar high,” said Hunter. 

When you are incapable of finding answers to some of the heaviest questions that make your life sensible, it leaves you on a hypothetical hamster wheel, where you will be ever-stuck to find a solution. You can end up being immensely drained in these seemingly endless existential crises. But the best thing to do is to know that these crises are temporary, and it is good to question your own existence in order to reach your higher potential. Until you do not know that you need to improve and fix your life, how will you be ever able to step up your game? And that is exactly how you can discover yourself, in the meanwhile. 

Even though every human being suffers through the extremes of crises, what truly defines your success is how you react to it. It is easy to feel despicable and doubt yourself amid such disasters. But, you have the power to shut this negative voice echoing within you and utilize the catastrophes as an opportunity to explore yourself and embark on a life-transforming journey of self-discovery. 

As every crisis brings with it an opportunity, a life crisis brings with it an opportunity for you to discover your true self, granting you resiliency. 

“All I want to emphasize is that you need to embrace all that has happened so far in your life. But do not let your past define your future. It is you who is the master of your destiny, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. The calm sea never made a strong sailor reach out to those who have successfully made it to the shore and seek inspiration. Don’t you ever dare to give up on life; cling to hope. After all, after every darkness, there is always light,” concluded Brian Hunter.

In his upcoming book, ‘They Call Me Tex: The Painful Life Behind The Smile,‘ Brian Hunter takes the reader on the journey of self-exploration, seeking the truth of life and living by it by sharing his journey. He implores the importance of finding purpose within ourselves, living authentically, impacting other people’s lives, speaking the truth as boldly as needed because the worthiest gifts lie next to our deepest wounds. To learn more about his life journey and seek inspiration, do not forget to delve into this classic read.