Embracing Strength, Resilience and Fearlessness

This month, we celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Mental Health Awareness Week (October 1-7). Throughout the month, we’re host various events and fundraisers supporting Breastcancer.org, an online resource that provides guidance to those who have been affected by a breast cancer diagnosis. With these events in mind, we can practice embracing strength, resilience and fearlessness.

Embracing a mindset of strength, resilience and fearlessness can be helpful to anyone regardless of what they are going through. Strength can be defined as the quality or state of being strong or the capacity for exertion and endurance. According to the American Psychological Association, resilience is the process and outcome of successfully adapting to difficult or challenging life experiences. Lastly, fearlessness is the freedom from fear.

While implementing this mindset is all these things, strength, resilience and fearlessness encompass so much more.

• Strength is reframing negative thoughts and adverse circumstances.
• Resilience is adapting to change.
• Fearlessness is having the courage to step out of your comfort zone.
• Strength is practicing mindfulness and self-compassion.
• Resilience is reaching out for support when you need it.
• Fearlessness is being comfortable with the unknown.

Here are some tips and practices to help you embrace a mindset of strength, resilience and fearlessness.

• Take action: Taking one small step toward a goal can do a lot for self-empowerment, regardless of how small that step is.
• Embrace flexibility: Realizing that things don’t always go to plan and finding a way to adapt is key to learning to be resilient.
• Practice optimism: Optimism can instill a sense of hope for the best possible outcome of a situation. Below are some ways you can practice optimism.
  • Live by positive mantras, such as:
    • “I choose to be resilient and courageous”
    • “My strength gives me power.”
  • Look for the good or the opportunity for growth in challenging situations
  • Consciously think positively
  • Do activities that bring you joy
  • Acknowledge when things are outside of your control
  • Remind yourself of the small wins in your life
  • Practice gratitude
• Reach out for support when you need it.
• Practice mindfulness: Mindfulness improves your ability to be present in your life.
• Practice self-compassion: Treat yourself as you would treat a friend.
• Get out of your comfort zone:
  • Identify your fears
  • Adopt a growth mindset: Conquering fears is going to be uncomfortable. With that uncomfortable feeling comes growth. Get comfortable with the unknown and continue anyway!

This month, we are selling strength and fearless bracelets to raise money for Breastcancer.org. Each time you look down at these bracelets, you’ll be reminded of the strength and fearlessness that’s already within you.

Always remember that you are stronger than you think and braver than you know!

by Megan DiPietro