By Alex Banks

Growing up with a single mom who had six boys by the age of 21, it was no easy task. As the middle child, I faced many challenges from an early age. I was born with learning disabilities and struggled in school, which left me feeling frustrated and defeated. My mother worked long hours to support our family, but we still lived in poverty. These early struggles taught me to be resilient and to never give up, no matter how tough the situation.

 As I grew older, I faced new challenges that tested my resiliency even further. Basketball was my passion, and I dreamed of playing in college and maybe even the NBA. But a series of injuries dashed those dreams, leaving me feeling lost and uncertain about my future.  I joined the Army to get school paid for.  Then, in a freak accident, I was hit by a semi-truck, which left me with injuries that forced me out of the military, another dream of mine gone. Despite these setbacks, I refused to give up.

As I reflect on my journey, I must admit that there were times when I gave up. After the initial injury that ended my basketball dreams, I had moments of doubt and fear that held me back. I could have kept playing, but I let my mind talk me out of it. I was scared of getting hurt again and didn’t want to risk further injury. Similarly, after the wreck that ended my military career, I let fear take over. The pain and damage to my body were overwhelming, and I was scared of what the future held. That’s when things got worse. I weighed over 300 pounds and lived a terrible lifestyle. It wasn’t until I hit rock bottom that I realized the power of resiliency. I knew from experience, not just physical pain but mental pain, how much resiliency played a part in overcoming adversity.

Growing up, I never would have imagined that my struggles would lead me down the path of sales and business. But it was my resiliency that gave me my start. After my basketball and military dreams were dashed, I started selling telecommunications door-to-door. It was a tough job, but I refused to give up. I learned to be persistent, to handle rejection, and to keep pushing forward. These skills served me well in sales and eventually led me to start my own business. I founded a consulting firm that is the nexus between people, processes, and results. It’s been a challenging journey, but my resiliency has allowed me to persevere through the tough times and come out stronger on the other side.

Resiliency has played a huge part in my life, allowing me to overcome adversity and build strength in the face of challenges. Here are some of the reasons why resiliency is important:

1. Resiliency allows you to bounce back from setbacks: Life is full of ups and downs, but resilient people are able to bounce back from setbacks and keep moving forward.
2. Resiliency helps you adapt to change: Change is inevitable, but resilient people are able to adapt to change and thrive in new situations.
3. Resiliency improves mental health: Resilient people are better equipped to handle stress, anxiety, and depression. They are also less likely to develop mental health issues, according to a study published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research in 2019.
4. Resiliency leads to success: Resilient people are more likely to achieve their goals and succeed in life. They are able to persevere through challenges and setbacks, which ultimately leads to success.

So, how can you establish resiliency? Here are some tips that have worked for me:

1. Build a support network: Surround yourself with people who support and encourage you. This can be family, friends, or a support group.
2. Practice self-care: Take care of yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally. This includes eating a healthy diet, getting enough sleep, and engaging in activities that bring you joy.
3. Develop a growth mindset: Adopt a growth mindset, which means believing that your abilities and intelligence can be developed through hard work and dedication.
4. Practice gratitude: Focus on the positive things in your life and express gratitude for them. This can help you maintain a positive outlook and build resiliency.
5. Learn from failure: Failure is a natural part of life, but resilient people use failure as an opportunity to learn and grow.

My personal journey has shown me that resiliency is a powerful tool for overcoming adversity and achieving success. Refusing to give up and learning to bounce back from setbacks, I have been able to turn my struggles into strengths. Resiliency has allowed me to start my own successful business and help others improve their people, processes, and results. By establishing a support network, practicing self-care, developing a growth mindset, practicing gratitude, and learning from failure, anyone can build resiliency and overcome whatever challenges life throws their way. Remember, resiliency is not about never experiencing failure or setbacks, but about using those experiences to become stronger and more successful.

Photo by Adil Alimbetov via Pexels.