Stoics believe that obstacles are opportunities to learn and grow. With this mindset, we could use anything that stands in our way to propel ourselves forward, but this is obviously much easier said than done. Not everything is easy to dismiss and immediately turn into a positive.

Resilience is your ability to look ahead, even when things aren’t going your way. You should always strive to have the ability to bounce back. You get knocked down; you get back up again.​

I’ve told this story a few times, but it holds true in relation to so many topics. When I was 19 years old, I decided to pursue a profession in Firefighting, knowing it to be an extremely competitive field. In my first Fire Technology course at the local community college, a Fire Captain told us that only 10% of us in that room will become Firefighters. What he didn’t say was this:

It wasn’t because only 10% of us had the strength. It wasn’t because only 10% of us had the intelligence. And it wasn’t because only 10% of us had the mechanical skills to do the job. It was because only 10% of us would actually be RESILIENT enough to persist through the hiring process to come out with a job.

I must have taken dozens of written exams and oral interviews, multiple polygraph tests, background checks, and Chief’s interviews. After several rejection letters and 8 years in the process, I’d finally received a conditional job offer. I’m thankful it took me so long because it allowed me to mature, stay humble, and truly appreciate the job when my badge was finally pinned on my chest.

I tell this story because there will be people around you who you feel have been given a golden ticket. I know individuals who were hired after the first exam they took, but it’s important to know this is atypical for most things.

Don’t get discouraged when you don’t succeed. Whether you believe it’s a divine plan, or simply that you’re being set up for something better, you have got to trust that being resilient will yield the best opportunity for growth.

Reflect on a recent challenge and list the ways it has (or could) make you stronger. You’ll be surprised how many you can come up with.