Against the Tides: How I Found Strength When Life Knocked Me Down

I’ve had seasons in my life where it felt like I was swimming against a tide that just wouldn’t let up.
The kind of tide that never gives you time to catch your breath.
The kind that knocks you down the moment you start to rise.

Wave after wave came at me — loneliness, grief, crippling uncertainty, fear.
No rhythm. No warning. No relief.

And in those moments, the questions I asked myself weren’t gentle. They came fast, blunt, and heavy:

Am I capable? Am I strong enough? Do I have what it takes to keep going?

At first, the answers were sharp and unforgiving:
I’m no good.
I’m weak.
I can’t do this.
No one can help me. I’m alone.

Those thoughts didn’t just sting — they held me down, keeping me trapped in a current of shame and hopelessness that felt endless.

And then, somewhere in the middle of all that, something shifted. Not in a grand, dramatic way — no lightning bolt moment. It was just a flicker, a tiny pause in the middle of the storm. One breath where I didn’t feel like I was drowning.

That flicker grew. Slowly, almost shyly at first. It turned into a kind of strength I hadn’t felt before — not the loud, chest-beating kind, but something solid, deep in my gut. A self-knowing. A trust that maybe… just maybe… I could do this.

And my answers began to change:
I’m okay.
I’m still afloat.
I think I can.
Yes, I can.
I am strong. I am capable.
I am not alone — because I have me.

Today, I’m standing on the shore — warm, dry, and yes, victorious. Not untouched. Not unscarred. But stronger. Softer. Wiser.

How did I get here? Not by thrashing at the water with everything I had. Not by pretending I knew exactly what I was doing.

I got here by learning something far more powerful:
🌊 When to push through… and when to float.
🫁 When to pause, catch my breath, and listen to myself.
🌀 When to trust the tide instead of fighting it.

Because resilience isn’t just about grit or brute strength. It’s about rhythm — the ebb and flow between effort and rest. It’s about presence — knowing when to act and when to be still. It’s about learning how to work with the wave, not against it.

🧭 If You’re in the Water Right Now…
If you’re swimming hard, eyes fixed on a shore that feels impossibly far away, don’t lose heart. And don’t give up just because the water feels endless.

Float when you need to. Swim when you can. The shore is closer than you think.

And when the waves feel too strong, remember this — resilience isn’t about never feeling fear or doubt. It’s about knowing when to pause, when to move, and how to trust yourself in the process.

That’s the work I do every day as a resilience coach — helping people find clarity, rebuild inner strength, and navigate life’s storms with more mindfulness and confidence.

Your personal growth isn’t waiting on a calmer sea. It starts right here, right where you are.