For many immigrants faith is mentioned as a major factor that pulled them through really tough times, crisis and hardships. What is your story? How does our moral fiber, culture, upbringing, experience, education and training add up to the resilience toolbox we carry to build and rebuild our lives understand stress and duress
Grandma Maja and I had many talks that centered on the statement: “Come hell or high water I must be creative, resourceful and strong, and stronger at the very least than the forces threatening to defeat me.” We spoke often about life obstacles in terms of them being logjams. To keep life flowing a major talent required is untangling problem situations. Grandma Maja often spoke of thanking God for carrying her through many tough times and clearly gave credit saying, “I could not have managed alone.”
Pull yourself up by your own bootstraps”; “You’re stronger than you think.”; “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.”; “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” The cultural message is clear: resilience depends on you – your individual toughness and inner strength. It’s a solo act. But, it it really? What about the reality of a divine presence or spirit or faith?
In 2014, Julie K. Hersh, a writer for Psychology Today Online posted a question on Facebook asking readers to share their tactics for building resilience. Their top response was “faith.” The response isn’t surprising. Faith links our present circumstances to our vision for the future. Hope is similar but wraps our present struggles in an image of better times. Both faith and hope are crucial elements of resilience, as the process of positive adaptation in the face of significant adversity. Resilient people have the capability to move ahead in the face of difficult circumstances.
I would like to keep this blog going by inviting you to email me with a short story of how you or your relatives met the tough times as an immigrant and can point out how faith, religion, God, or Spirit played a significant role in carrying the day.
Forward to dgrossnick@aol.com and I will review edit and consider posting. Thanks.
Maja's Blessings 