Becoming Greater than Our Circumstances

Clouds remind me that life’s beauty comes from the interplay of light and shadow—a reflection of our own journeys.

Becoming Greater Than Our Circumstances

Welcome to Resolve to Rise, a blog dedicated to empowering people to overcome challenges and become greater than their circumstances. Life often brings unexpected hurdles, such as job loss, the diagnosis of a chronic condition, navigating the effects of chronic stress, PTSD, or even Complex PTSD.

In those moments, it can feel as though the ground has shifted beneath your feet, leaving you stuck and uncertain. When life changes in significant ways, the tools you once relied on may no longer work.

The Reality of Feeling Stuck

When you feel stuck, it’s not just a perception—it’s your reality. The saying “Perception is reality” might be overused, but it holds truth. For instance, when facing the effects of something difficult, you may find yourself stuck in negative thought patterns or emotional cycles that make it hard to move forward. Discouragement or feeling overwhelmed can become the norm, draining joy and hope from your life.

But here’s a key lesson I’ve learned: if I change nothing, nothing changes.  

It may seem obvious, but I have found myself at times in a beaten down place that left me feeling hopeless and taking up residence in the awareness of what I could not change. As a result, there was little energy given to what I could change. 

Even small steps toward change can open the door to growth and healing. For example, if I feel physically unwell but resist adjusting my habits—like my diet—I’m likely to continue feeling unwell. And in some situations, my physical condition may even get worse. Not every attempt will work. Your first, second, or even third approach may fall flat or not be as transformative as you had hoped. But each effort gets you closer to a solution that fits your needs.

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