And if they hadn't tried to break me down, I wouldn't know that I'm unbreakable. -Gabourey Sidibe
Do you know that there is a place within you that is unbreakable and indestructible? We often find that place in those proverbial "dark nights of the soul" when we are facing deep hurt, facing ourselves, and facing truths. We might come upon that place in those times when we sense that something transformative is happening, even though it is painful. The inner voice of our unbrokenness, that says "I will not be destroyed", may start out as a faint whisper. And then as we traverse and cultivate the hidden terrains of our interior life, we can discover a place of solid ground. Our unbreakable place exists alongside the real experiences of our vulnerability and fears and struggles. But the more we travel that road within, the louder that unbreakable voice gets and the ground of our unbrokenness can become a more stable and accessible place of support, and an increasing source of inner power. We find that inextinguishable fire that burns within. It doesn't make the realities of the winds and storms of life disappear, but when we have stood upon that unbroken inner ground, we know we will not be destroyed. We realize that we may be taken down, but we will not be taken out because we can find our way back to our unbroken place again. We may crawl back there or we may sprint back there, but back we go for refuge, reconnection, and renewal.
It is really about finding and cultivating our resilience. And cultivate it we must. It doesn't just appear from thin air. We must be intentional about doing those things that nurture and cultivate resilience. For me it is meditation and being "connected" (in close relationship). If I let either of those go unattended for too long, it becomes a bit harder to hear the voice of my unbrokenness. What can you do to cultivate and strengthen your resilience?
With Peace, Love, and Soulfulness,
Dr. Shelly Harrell
