When Being Strong Is the Only Choice You Have
One of my favourite quotes comes from Bob Marley:
"You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have."
It's a quote I often share with clients, colleagues, and friends. It's also one I return to during challenging times in my own life and business. Over the years, it has become something of a personal mantra.
Strength is an interesting thing. Most of us rarely think about it until we need it. We often assume we're not capable of handling certain situations, yet when life or indeed life either personal or business presents us with a challenge, somehow, we find a way through.
Looking back at my own experiences of burnout, there were times when I genuinely believed I would never feel positive or hopeful again. The journeys were difficult, and there were moments when the future felt uncertain. Yet, when I reflect on those periods now, I can clearly see that it was my strength and resilience that carried me through and enabled me to build the fulfilling life I enjoy today.
Even now, when challenges occasionally get thrown my way, like everyone else, there are moments when I have to draw on reserves of strength I didn't know I had. Where that strength comes from, I'm not entirely sure, but it always seems to appear when it's needed most.
In my work as speaker, webinar host and indeed metor, I often talk about the difference between strength and resilience. While the two are closely connected, they are not the same. Strength helps us endure difficult situations, while resilience gives us the ability to adapt, recover, and move forward. Resilience allows us to access not only our inner strength but also the support systems and healthy habits that help us cope.
For me, one of the biggest lessons from my burnouts was indeed the importance of self-care. Today, whenever I face a difficult situation, I make a conscious effort to prioritise it. Whether it's reading a good book, taking a walk in the countryside, watching a favourite film, or spending time with family and friends, these simple activities help restore my energy and perspective.
Self-care looks different for everyone. It might be going to the gym, running, swimming, practising yoga, or simply taking time to relax. Whatever works for you, make it a priority.
Because when life or business becomes challenging, it's not strength alone that gets us through. It's resilience—the ability to nurture ourselves, adapt, and keep moving forward—this is indeed what allows our strength to shine when we need it most.
