Written by: Simon T. Bailey, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
What does resilience mean to you? Simon T. Bailey International defines resilience as the capacity to recover from setbacks.
Everyone experiences setbacks in life, but not everyone understands how to release their brilliance following those setbacks. As you begin your journey to CRUSH 2024, I would like to share with you some insights about what it means to be resilient.
If you’ve ever found yourself feeling like you are frozen in space or fearful of making a mistake, I have a friend who understands where you are coming from.
I would like to introduce you to an old friend of mine, Worry, a 35-year-old who was once drowning under waves of anxiety.
At the beginning of her story, Worry had a negative outlook on life. She lived in a state of paranoia and felt as though her feelings didn’t matter. She would often get frustrated with this feeling, so rather than dealing with her emotions, Worry would tend to suppress them.
Now, my friend Worry not only had a negative outlook on her personal life but also on her professional life. She believed her work was meaningless and found no happiness in her career. As a kid, she dreamed of being an engineer, but when the time came to pursue it, she doubted herself. Out of fear of failing, she went a different route and was now working for a leader who didn’t respect her or her work.
So, at this point, Worry felt stuck in a life with no meaningful relationships, was working in a toxic environment, and longed for a life she once dreamed of that wasn’t filled with worry.
One day, Worry met four individuals who, week by week, helped her begin to put the pieces back together. Now, you’re probably asking, “How did this happen?”
Worry met her new friends through surfing lessons, and they quickly bonded over their personal and professional growth journeys. Two of the individuals had been where Worry was at that time and were able to help her grow through the Friend-to-Friend Process.
Now, I can’t give away the full process; you’ll have to read my book Resilience@Work for that. But I am happy to share with you one of the questions the Friend-to-Friend Process examines, and one that truly helped Worry become someone she now likes and admires.
1. What do you want for you?
When answering this question, and in order to get the outcome you’re looking for, you must answer this for yourself, with no one else attached. This is your life. So, what do you want for you?
Worry was eventually able to answer this question and create the life she wanted, and it’s all because of some relationships she found along the way.
Now, the life she wanted and the resilience she earned didn’t happen overnight. This comes from making the daily decision to continue to grow. For example, Worry decided to start each day with a positive expectation, and whenever she feels a negative thought coming, she will flip it into a positive one before it can affect her day.
Worry is a character from my new book, Resilience@Work. Worry and the four other characters in the book are me from different stages in my life. They are versions of myself that have grown and developed to empower me to become the man I am today. I am grateful for the setbacks I experienced in life and am proud to say I now feel resilient. I continue to work hard every day in my personal and professional growth journeys because, if we’re being honest, you can never stop growing for the better.
I wish this growth journey and a new outlook on life for every brilliant individual reading this blog, and I hope you join me on your journey @simontbailey to becoming resilient. You can do this, O’ Brilliant One. I love you and I believe in you. Now go be resilient.
Preorder your copy of Resilience@Work here!
Simon T. Bailey, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Simon T. Bailey, a trailblazer in his field, has ascended to extraordinary heights, recognized among Success magazine’s Top 25 alongside Brené Brown, Tony Robbins, and Oprah Winfrey, as well as leaders Hum Top 200 Power List in 2023. With the Disney Institute as his launchpad, he’s left an indelible mark on 2,300+ organizations in 54 countries, such as American Express, Deloitte, Marriott, Visa, Stanford Health Care, and Taco Bell.
Through books, speeches, and coaching, Simon captivates the lives of countless individuals around the globe, inspiring them to lead better, stay curious, and embrace a growth mindset. Prepare to be empowered and reach new heights as he propels you toward a brilliant future. Your journey to brilliance starts now.
