Life has a funny way of throwing curveballs when we least expect it. One moment you’re cruising along, feeling good about the path you're on, and the next—boom—you’re flat on your back, wondering how you got there. Literally, in my case. A broken foot and leg have a way of making you stop, reflect, and realize that resilience isn't just something you talk about—it’s something you live.
Now, I could sit here and write about how tough it is to manage a setback like this, but the truth is, we all face challenges. What matters is how we respond. I didn’t plan on breaking my leg, just like none of us plan for the obstacles that come our way. But, as I’ve learned from the Fathership Program and countless experiences, resilience isn't about avoiding the fall. It’s about getting back up, every time.
Resilience in Action
Psychologist Viktor Frankl, a man who knew more about resilience than most of us can imagine, once said, “When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves” (Frankl, 2006, p. 112). That’s the core of resilience—changing ourselves when life refuses to go according to plan. Whether it’s a physical injury, emotional hardship, or even societal challenges, it all comes down to how we adapt, grow, and move forward.
I've been thinking about how this setback has given me a front-row seat to my own resilience. Sure, it sucks not being able to move as freely as I want, but maybe that’s the point. Maybe life is saying, "Hey, slow down. Reflect." These moments are not just obstacles—they're opportunities. And when we embrace that perspective, we gain strength, not in spite of the setbacks, but because of them.
The Importance of Resilience in Mental Health
In the context of men's mental health, resilience plays a significant role. Connor Beaton, in his book Men's Work, emphasizes that resilience is more than just bouncing back—it's about the capacity to grow through adversity (Beaton, 2020). This concept ties directly into what we're building with the Fathership Program: men who are not defined by their hardships, but by how they rise from them. It’s not the fall that defines you, but your decision to stand back up.
Standing Up, Literally and Figuratively
So yeah, I missed yesterday's blog because I was down for the count. But today, I’m back at it, writing through the pain, because that's what resilience looks like. It's about standing up when life knocks you down—even if it’s with a busted foot and a lot of ice packs.
We all have our stories. Some are written in ink, others in scars. The key is to not let anyone else hold the pen. No injury, no hardship, no external force gets to write our story for us. As men, as people, we hold that power, even when it feels like it’s slipping through our fingers.
In the end, setbacks don’t define us—our resilience does. So here’s to standing up, even when it's tough, and continuing to write our stories the way we want them told.
Work Cited
Beaton, C. (2020). Men's work: A practical guide to face your darkness, end self-sabotage & find freedom. Harmony.
Frankl, V. E. (2006). Man’s search for meaning. Beacon Press.
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