What Doesn’t Kill Me Makes Me Stronger

Stronger with Every Struggle…

You’ve probably heard the phrase, “What doesn’t kill me makes me stronger.”

It’s often thrown around when life gets tough, but have you ever stopped to think about what it really means?

I’ve had my fair share of ups and downs, and I bet you have too.

Yet, here we are, stronger, wiser, and perhaps even a little more resilient.

But why is that?

What makes the struggle so crucial in shaping who we are?

Let’s take a journey through the lessons we can learn from our hardest times, how they fuel our personal growth, and how you can use your setbacks as stepping stones to becoming the strongest version of yourself.

Life's Uppercuts: They Hurt, but You’re Still Standing

We’ve all been there — a time when life throws a punch so hard, you’re left gasping for air.

It could be losing a job, going through a breakup, dealing with a health scare, or simply feeling lost.

In those moments, it’s easy to feel like the weight of the world is crushing you. I’ve been knocked down plenty of times, and trust me, each time it felt like I’d never get back up.

But here’s the thing — you do get back up.

You may not realize it right away, but every time you dust yourself off, you're getting a little bit stronger.

Every battle you face adds another layer of resilience. You start building an inner armor that protects you from future blows.

And while the pain may linger, you learn how to carry it differently, how to use it to your advantage.

So the next time life swings at you, remember: you’ve been through worse, and you’re still standing.

Turning Pain into Power

Pain is not something we naturally lean into, but there’s undeniable power in embracing it.

When life throws challenges your way, your instinct may be to run from them or to numb the pain. Trust me, I’ve been there too.

But what if instead of avoiding it, you embraced it?

What if you viewed pain as a tool for growth rather than a setback?

Think of it like going to the gym. You know those days when your muscles are sore from a tough workout?

That soreness is your body growing stronger. Pain in life works the same way. It’s uncomfortable, yes, but it’s also a sign that you're being stretched, that you're moving out of your comfort zone.

Growth doesn’t happen in the comfortable, cushy areas of life — it happens in the trenches, in the hard times.

So, instead of running from your pain, lean into it. Let it fuel your growth.

Ask yourself, “What can I learn from this?

How can I use this to become stronger?”

Resilience: Your Superpower in Disguise

If you’ve ever watched a superhero movie, you know that the hero usually faces some serious adversity before discovering their true strength.

It’s a powerful metaphor for real life.

The truth is, your struggles are like little training grounds for your resilience — your personal superpower.

Every time you face adversity and push through, you’re building resilience. It’s like a muscle that gets stronger the more you use it.

And resilience is a game-changer. It’s what helps you bounce back faster, stand taller, and face new challenges with more confidence.

Think about the last time you overcame something tough. Maybe you were terrified at first, but once you got through it, you realized just how capable you were.

That’s resilience kicking in.

So, the next time life hands you lemons (or throws them at your head), remember that you have the strength to turn it around.

Your resilience is your secret weapon, even when you feel like everything is falling apart.

Perspective Shift: Seeing Obstacles as Opportunities

It’s easy to look at life’s challenges as roadblocks, things that are getting in your way. But what if you started seeing them as opportunities instead?

What if the very thing that’s causing you pain right now is the key to your next level of growth?

I used to hate this idea. I’d think, “How on earth can I view this disaster as anything but a mess?”

But with time (and a few hard knocks), I started to see how my worst moments turned out to be the ones that shaped me the most.

The breakup that shattered me also taught me how to stand on my own two feet. The job I didn’t get led me to discover a new passion as a freelance writer, that I never would have explored otherwise.

So when you’re faced with a challenge, ask yourself: “What can I gain from this? How can this make me better?”

It’s not about minimizing the pain or pretending everything’s fine. It’s about recognizing that within every struggle, there’s a seed of opportunity waiting to be planted.

Celebrating Small Wins: They Add Up to Big Victories

When you’re in the thick of a tough time, it can feel like there’s no end in sight.

That’s why it’s so important to celebrate the small wins along the way. You may not have reached your goal yet, but each step forward is progress.

And that progress deserves to be acknowledged.

Whether it’s getting out of bed on a day when you didn’t think you could or finding a silver lining in a tough situation, those small wins are proof that you’re stronger than you think.

Every little victory adds up, building momentum that carries you forward.

So, celebrate the small stuff. Give yourself a pat on the back for the things you’ve overcome, no matter how insignificant they may seem in the grand scheme of things. Each win is a testament to your strength, and it’s worth celebrating.

The Power of Reflection: Seeing How Far You’ve Come

Sometimes we get so caught up in the present struggle that we forget to look back at how far we’ve come.

Take a moment to reflect on your journey.

Think about the obstacles you’ve overcome, the lessons you’ve learned, and the person you’ve become as a result.

You’re not the same person you were a year ago, five years ago, or even last week.

When I look back at my own life, I see moments where I was convinced I wouldn’t make it through.

Yet here I am, stronger, more resilient, and more confident in my ability to handle whatever life throws at me.

And I bet if you reflect on your own journey, you’ll see the same thing.

Reflection is powerful because it reminds you of your strength. It shows you that you’ve faced tough times before and come out the other side.

And if you did it once, you can do it again.

Final Thoughts: You Are Stronger Than You Think

Life is tough. There’s no sugar-coating it. But the challenges you face are not there to break you — they’re there to build you.

Each hardship is an opportunity for growth, a chance to become stronger, wiser, and more resilient.

So the next time life knocks you down, remember this: You’ve been through tough times before, and you came out stronger.

You have the resilience, the grit, and the power to not just survive but thrive.

What doesn’t kill you truly does make you stronger.

And I promise, you’ve got this.

The Truth is, You Don’t Need Closure

Cut ties and move on without glancing back… Image via Unsplash What did I do? What did I say? What could I have done differently? Is there someone else? Can we still be friends? Can we fix this? We torture ourselves with questions when a relationship ends. We want to know the answers. We want to know why. We want to make sense of what we don’t understand. Yes, closure can help. It can bridge the gap between confusion and heartbreak. It guides us to accept the loss and find the strength to look ahead. With closure, we realize there is no turning back. There are no what-ifs. No second chance. The other person has made up their mind for the reason of x, y, and z. As much as it hurts, closure can help us turn the page and start a new chapter. But what happens if you don’t get closure? What do you do when your ex won’t communicate or has abruptly ended all contact with you? Just one day, poof — they're gone. Or your relationship ended on bad terms. You saw it coming. You knew the brea

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