The Long Road to Resilience (and Why I Finally Feel Ready)

Have you ever felt angry with yourself for taking so much time to accomplish a goal, an intention, a vision?

I have.

And not just something overdue by a couple of weeks. This was a vision I carried for years. A want. A desire. A passion I spoke about so often that I grew sick and tired of hearing myself repeat it.

The truth is, I had to be reminded of something simple but important: life has been heavy. The last 15 years have been marked by trauma I didn't ask for but had no choice but to live through. Mental health/addiction struggles in family members and then my own stage 4 cancer diagnosis. It was a lot.

And yet, through it all, this dream never left me. I wanted to create a business, a career, a life's work that wasn't just a job but a passion. Something that could carry me forward for the next 30 years. Work I could continue with joy and purpose until I'm 95. That's how deeply I wanted it.

But for years, I couldn't get there.

Until two and a half months ago.

Something shifted. For the first time ever, I connected with the heart of what I wanted to do. It finally felt authentic. It finally felt real.

And yes, it makes sense that it took this long. I've been living under the weight of trauma, financial instability, and the constant fear that the rug might be pulled out from under me again. But this time, instead of letting fear hold me back, I leaned in.

What changed?

I stopped procrastinating. When inspiration comes, I act on it. I write. I create. I move forward. I no longer sit on the sidelines of my own vision.

Here's the biggest difference: the tools of resilience I've been learning, writing about, and trying to teach others? I've tested them, lived them, and proven them in my own life. I know they work - because they're what get me through.

I use them daily.

Some days, I still cry like a baby. But I also know how to pick myself up. I know how to keep going. I know how to rise. And in that process, I've discovered something I wasn't expecting: joy. Real, deep joy.

This is resilience.
Not the absence of pain, but the ability to live fully despite it.
Not the absence of fear, but the ability to keep moving through it.

And now, I can say it with confidence: I am resilient. And if I can learn to practice it, so can you.

Your journey might take longer than you planned. Mine did. But trust me when I say: it is never too late to start, to dream, and to begin again.

✨ If you're ready to explore more tools, or if you'd simply like a dose of encouragement through Lizzie's writing, head to the link below - that's where I house all my stuff. My resilience guide, blog posts, and daily reminders are waiting there for you.