Strength is not always loud.
Sometimes it is the quiet decision to rise again—
not because the weight has lifted,
but because you refuse to let it define you.
Resilience is the wisdom of staying present
with what is hard,
while trusting that something enduring
is being formed within you.
Words of Light
“If you want to fly, you have to give up the things that weigh you down.” — Toni Morrison
Reflection
Resilience is often misunderstood as toughness—
as pushing through without pause or tenderness.
But true resilience is rooted in honesty, adaptability, and self-trust.
It is the ability to acknowledge what has hurt you
without allowing it to imprison you.
It is learning when to endure
and when to let go.
You have survived moments you once thought would undo you.
Not because you were unbreakable—
but because you were willing to bend, adjust, grieve, and rise again.
Strength does not require that you carry everything alone.
It asks you to notice what you are still holding
simply because it has become familiar.
Today, consider this gently:
What belief, burden, or expectation has become heavier than it needs to be?
What might happen if you allowed yourself to set it down?
Pause and Consider
Take a slow breath and reflect:
Where in my life am I stronger than I give myself credit for?
What am I holding that no longer aligns with who I am becoming?
What would resilience look like if it included rest, not just endurance?
Let clarity emerge without urgency.
Affirmation
I release what no longer serves me
and rise with strength shaped by wisdom and grace.
I am resilient—not because I have not struggled,
but because I continue to choose myself.
Rita Lynn Berry, EdS, LCMHC, is a licensed clinical mental health counselor and the founder of NewVision Counseling and Consulting Services, PLLC. She is also the creator of the Journey to Me™ program and Mend n Muse Media™, where she shares tools and reflections that support healing, resilience, and self-love.