Written by Kelsey Bornyk, Beautifully Broken Transformations
Kelsey Bornyk is an esteemed artist, creator and coach, pioneering in therapeutic art and mindfulness to empower busy entrepreneur women to flourish, transform their challenges, break through barriers and step back into their power. Founder of Beautifully Broken Transformations, she leverages her experiences to help guide others on their journey.
Standing on a trail in Bragg Creek, surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty, I faced a moment of truth. My body, challenged by chronic illness, reminded me that I couldn't hike like I used to. The familiar whispers of self-doubt crept in the same voices that haunt many entrepreneurs when facing their limitations. At that moment, I had two choices: let my limitations define me or find a new way to thrive.
This moment perfectly captures what business resilience truly means, not the absence of challenges but the ability to adapt, pivot, and even flourish. As female entrepreneurs, we often believe resilience means pushing through at all costs and maintaining a perfect facade while fighting battles behind the scenes. But what if I told you that true resilience isn't about being unshakeable? What if it's about learning to bend instead of break, about finding strength not despite our challenges but because of them?
You see, just like that trail taught me about my relationship with nature, my journey from corporate burnout to entrepreneurial renaissance has revealed the hidden superpower that separates thriving businesses from those that merely survive. It's not about having all the answers or never facing setbacks. It's about how you respond when life and business throw their inevitable curveballs.
Understanding business resilience
Like that day on the trail, entrepreneurs face moments where everything seems to say, "You can't." Whether it's a health challenge, a market downturn, or a failed launch, these moments test our resolve. Through my journey from corporate professional to entrepreneur, I've learned resilience isn't what most people think it is.
We've all seen those motivational posts about "bouncing back" and "pushing through." But true business resilience? It's far more nuanced and far more potent than that.
What business resilience means
Think of resilience like water. It doesn't try to break through a boulder; it finds new paths around it. In business, resilience isn't about bouncing back to exactly who you were before. It's about adapting and growing stronger through challenges. When I had to leave my 14-year corporate career due to health issues, I wasn't able to return to who I was before. Instead, I became something better: an entrepreneur who understands firsthand how to transform limitations into opportunities.
The power of choice
Nobody tells you about resilience: it's a series of choices. Every day, we face moments where we can choose to:
View challenges as roadblocks or stepping stones
Let our Saboteurs run the show or engage our Sage wisdom
Stay stuck in old patterns or explore new possibilities
These choices might seem small, but they compound over time to create either a brittle business that breaks under pressure or a flexible one that adapts and thrives.
From personal to professional
The beautiful thing about resilience is its transfer across all areas of life. The same mental fitness muscles that help you handle a personal setback strengthen your ability to navigate business challenges. I've seen this firsthand with my clients, and it naturally flows into others when they develop resilience in one area.
Think about it. Every time you:
Adapt to a change in your personal life. You're building adaptability in your business.
Face a fear in your personal growth. You're developing courage for business decisions.
Learn from a personal setback. You're gathering wisdom for your entrepreneurial journey.
Real resilience in action
Resilience isn't about never falling but learning to fall forward. It's not about having all the answers; it's about staying curious and open to new possibilities. And most importantly, it's about more than doing everything alone. Just as I needed to reframe my relationship with hiking and nature, you might need to reframe your relationship with business challenges.
The science of resilience
When my Saboteurs kicked in on that trail, telling me I was losing everything that brought me joy, science worked in my favour, even if I didn't realize it then. I've come to understand through my journey with Positive Intelligence that resilience isn't just a mindset – it's a physical process happening in our brains.
Your brain on resilience
Think of your brain as a vast network of trails. My brain constantly creates new neural pathways as I have to find new paths to enjoy nature within my limitations. When faced with a challenge, your brain has two main response patterns:
The saboteur path: The well-worn trail of stress responses, self-doubt, and limiting beliefs
The sage path: The newer, sometimes less familiar trail of wisdom, creativity, and resilience
Here's the fascinating part: whenever you choose a response, you either reinforce an old path or create a new one.
The power of neuroplasticity
Remember when you first learned to ride a bike? At first, it seemed impossible, but your brain rewired to master this new skill. This is neuroplasticity in action – your brain's unique ability to form new connections and adapt to change. The same process applies to building business resilience.
When I first faced the reality of leaving my corporate career, my Saboteurs were blazing down their familiar paths:
"You'll never succeed."
"You're losing everything."
"Who do you think you are?"
However, I began creating new neural pathways through consistent Mindfulness and Positive Intelligence. Each time I chose to respond with my Sage perspective, I rewired my brain for resilience.
The mind-body connection
Science shows us that resilience isn't just mental but physical. When stressed, our bodies release cortisol and adrenaline, preparing us for 'fight or flight.' This was useful when our ancestors faced physical dangers, but it could be more helpful when we're facing a challenging client email or a disappointing sales month.
Through practices like:
Mindful breathing
Physical self-awareness
PQ reps (short mental exercises)
Body scanning techniques
We can shift our nervous system from stress response to resilience mode, allowing us to access our best thinking and decision-making abilities.
Positive intelligence: Your brain's resilience gym
Just as physical exercise builds stronger muscles, mental fitness exercises build more robust resilience pathways.
This is where Positive Intelligence becomes your secret weapon. Through regular PQ practice, you're:
Weakening Saboteur neural pathways
Strengthening Sage responses
Building new resilience circuits
Enhancing your capacity for clear thinking under pressure
The real-world impact
Understanding this science matters because it shows us that resilience isn't a trait you have or don't have. It's a skill you can actively develop. Just as I learned to find joy in nature in new ways, my brain can learn new patterns of responding to business challenges.
Recognizing the need for stronger resilience
As I had to acknowledge my physical limitations to find new ways forward on that trail, recognizing where your business needs more resilience is the first step to building it. Often, we mistake pushing through pain for resilience when we're just reinforcing old patterns that no longer serve us.
The silent signs
Think of your business resilience as a muscle that sends signals when overtaxed. Sometimes, these signals whisper before they scream. Here are the key areas to watch:
Mindset markers
Constantly feeling overwhelmed by decisions
Avoiding necessary changes or conversations
Finding yourself stuck in "what-if" spirals
Comparing your Chapter 1 to someone else's Chapter 20
Letting your Saboteurs run the strategy meetings in your head
Thinking you are not good enough
Fear of success and being seen
Physical and emotional indicators
Dreading opening your email or social media
Feeling physically tense when thinking about your business
Loss of sleep over business concerns
Decreased enthusiasm for your work
Persistent anxiety about the future
Business warning signs
Inconsistent revenue patterns
Difficulty bouncing back from setbacks
Avoiding growth opportunities due to fear
Reluctance to invest in your business
Making decisions from a place of scarcity rather than opportunity
Overdelivering to the point of exhaustion
Difficulty setting and maintaining boundaries
Paralysis in the face of algorithm changes
Overwhelming fear of visibility
Constant comparison to competitors
Perfectionism blocking progress
Difficulty pricing your worth
Emotional attachment to outcomes
Impact on relationships
Just as my health challenges affected my relationships with both nature and loved ones, low business resilience can impact:
Client interactions (becoming defensive or overly accommodating)
Team dynamics (micromanaging or disconnecting)
Personal relationships (bringing business stress home)
Professional networks (isolating yourself when you need support most)
The hidden opportunity
Here's the beautiful twist recognizing these signs isn't about beating yourself up. It's about honouring where you are and creating space for growth. As I learned on that trail, limitations aren't roadblocks; they're invitations to innovate, create and see the opportunity in front of you.
Every challenge is data, not drama
Recognition is the first step to transformation
Your awareness is already building resilience
The six pillars of business resilience
On that trail, I discovered that resilience isn't just one thing. It combines mindset, adaptation, and support. The same is true in business. Just as a trail requires different techniques for different terrains, building an unshakeable business requires mastering multiple elements of resilience.
Such as:
1. Mental fitness foundation
Think of this as your base camp. Without mental fitness, every business challenge feels like climbing a mountain in flip-flops.
Key components:
Daily PQ reps to strengthen your mental muscles
Saboteur identification and management
Sage perspective activation
Stress response regulation
Practice point: When my Controller Saboteur tries to micromanage every aspect of my business, I pause for a PQ rep
2. Emotional agility
Your emotions are like weather conditions on the trail – they're going to change. The key isn't avoiding them but learning to navigate through them.
Essential skills:
Acknowledging emotions without being ruled by them
Using feelings as data, not directives
Maintaining perspective during emotional storms
Converting emotional energy into productive action
Practice point: Instead of fighting frustration about my limitations, I learned to use it as a compass pointing toward innovation.
3. Strategic flexibility
Just as I had to find new ways to enjoy nature, your business needs the ability to adapt without losing sight of its core purpose.
Key elements:
Viewing challenges as opportunities for innovation
Maintaining core values while adapting methods
Creating multiple pathways to goals
Embracing experimentation
Practice point: When one path is blocked, the question becomes, 'What else is possible?' rather than 'Why can't I?
4. Support system strength
No successful trail expedition happens solo, and no resilient business exists in isolation.
Critical components:
Building a diverse support network (Tribe)
Creating strong client relationships
Developing team resilience
Nurturing professional connections
Practice point: Just as I needed to accept help on challenging trails, learning to lean on support (your Tribe) in business multiplies your resilience.
5. Growth mindset mastery
Every setback is a setup for a comeback when you view it through the lens of growth.
Key aspects:
Viewing challenges as learning opportunities
Embracing imperfect action
Celebrating progress over perfection
Using feedback as fuel for improvement
Practice point: Each time I adapt to a limitation, I'm not losing capability – I'm gaining wisdom.
6. Adaptive leadership
Leading a resilient business means being strong and flexible, like a tree that bends in the wind but doesn't break.
Essential elements:
Leading by Example in practicing resilience
Creating psychological safety for your team
Fostering innovation and creativity
Building sustainable business practices
Practice point: Just as nature adapts to changing conditions, resilient leadership means evolving with your business's needs.
Bringing it all together
These pillars work in collaboration – they support and strengthen each other. Think of them as the essential gear in your business backpack. You might only need some tools, but preparing them prepares you for any business terrain.
Implementation tips:
Start with one pillar that resonates most
Practice small, consistent actions daily
Notice how strengthening one pillar naturally enhances others
Celebrate your progress along the way
Your comprehensive resilience toolkit
Just as I learned to reframe my relationship with nature, finding new ways to connect and enjoy it within my limitations, here are tools to help you reframe and strengthen your business challenges. Think of this toolkit as your business survival gear, and each tool serves a specific purpose in building resilience.
Positive intelligence practices
The PQ Basics:
10-Second reset: When overwhelm hits, pause for a quick body scan
Three-breath practice: Focus on physical sensations with each breath
Hand-on-heart technique: Ground yourself during stressful moments
Advanced PQ tools: When my Judge Saboteur used to tell me I was failing because I couldn't hike like before, I learned to activate my Sage.
Here's how you can do the same in business:
Identify your top Saboteurs and their trigger patterns (take the saboteur assessment here)
Create personalized Sage responses for common challenges
Use the SOSS method (Stop, Observe, Step back, Strategize)
Mindset shifts and reframing techniques
The Power of questions: Instead of asking, "Why is this happening to me?" try:
"What is this teaching me?"
"How can this make my business stronger?"
"What opportunities am I not seeing?"
"How can I serve from this experience?"
Reframing exercise
Write down your current business challenge
List your Saboteur's interpretation
Ask, "What would my Sage see?"
Identify possible opportunities
Create an action plan from your Sage perspective
Building support systems
Creating your circle of strength:
Inner circle: Close confidants who understand your journey
Professional circle: Mentors, coaches, and industry peers
Client circle: Loyal customers who champion your work
Learning circle: Communities for growth and development (Join The 10% Edge Community)
Action steps:
Identify gaps in your support system
Reach out to one new connection weekly
Schedule regular check-ins with critical supporters
Join relevant online communities or masterminds
Technology tools for resilience
Essential apps and resources:
Mindfulness apps: Positive Intelligence, Calm, Headspace, or InsightTimer for mental fitness
Productivity tools: Asana, Trello, or ClickUp for managing overwhelm
Communication platforms: Slack or Voxer for staying connected
Journal apps: Positive Intelligence, for reflection and tracking progress
Daily resilience rituals
Morning power-up:
Three-minute PQ practice
Intention setting
Priority alignment
Sage perspective check
Evening wind-down:
Celebration of wins (no matter how small)
Lesson identification
Gratitude practice
Next-day preparation
Crisis response kit
When challenges hit:
Pause and Breathe
Activate your Sage
Consult your support system
Review past successes
Choose one small next step
Implementation strategy
Just as I had to start with small walks before building up to longer ones, begin with:
Choose one tool from each category
Practice for 5-10 minutes daily
Track what works best for you
Gradually add more tools
Celebrate your progress
The goal isn't to have a perfect toolkit. It's to have reliable tools that work for you.
Measuring and tracking resilience
Just as I learned to celebrate small wins like finding new ways to enjoy nature within my limitations – measuring resilience in business starts with acknowledging progress, not perfection. Think of tracking resilience like marking your trail: it's not about reaching the summit overnight, but knowing you're moving in the right direction.
The new success metrics
When I started my business, I thought success meant never struggling. Now, I know it's about how quickly and gracefully we adapt when challenges arise.
Recovery velocity
The time between challenge identification and response
Speed of implementing alternative solutions
Duration of emotional recovery after setbacks
Rate of return to productivity
Tracking point: Instead of beating yourself up about setbacks, track how your recovery time improves over months.
Building your resilience legacy
Just as that day in Bragg Creek marked the beginning of my new relationship with nature, today marks the beginning of your intentional journey with business resilience. True resilience isn't measured by how many challenges you avoid but by how you transform them into stepping stones for growth.
But this is just the beginning. In my next article, we'll dive deep into the practical implementation of these foundations, exploring how to measure your progress, create sustainable systems, and transform your challenges into your competitive advantage.
Your next step
Before you wait for Part 2, I invite you to take one small action today: Choose just one tool from this article that resonated most with you, and commit to practicing it for the next week. As I learned on that trail, every journey begins with a single step.
Would you like me to develop and implement these resilience principles in your business? Book a free discovery call to explore how we can work together to build your unshakeable business foundation.
Read more from Kelsey Bornyk
Kelsey Bornyk, Beautifully Broken Transformations
Kelsey Bornyk is an esteemed artist, creator, and transformative coach specializing in therapeutic art and mindfulness for busy entrepreneur women as they navigate the complexities of stress, overwhelm, and life's turbulence. Drawing from her battle with chronic health conditions, mental health challenges, overwhelm and a profound shift from 14 years in corporate registry work to entrepreneurship, she founded Beautifully Broken Transformations. Her work, deeply rooted in her journey towards healing and empowerment, aims to guide and inspire individuals from feeling stress and overwhelm to a state of calm, clarity and empowerment.
