Growing up, I had emotionally absent parents. It's not their fault, I don't believe they knew how to provide what they didn't have either. Because of this, it meant I was extraordinarily reserved and introverted. I was always labeled as "quiet"; that was often the first word people used to describe me.
Though my mouth was quiet, my mind raced. I wanted to know how the world worked and I became an active reader. When problems arose, I figured them out for myself. My uncle constantly criticized me to my face for being "a 30-year-old in a 13-year-old body". He thought my childhood was dull and boring. Looking back, I can't say that I disagree with him. I am, however, thankful for the mental fortitude I developed over the years.
I learned that mental endurance works for me. Maybe that's why I still choose the harder path to travel today. I'm quite comfortable doing long and difficult tasks, because I know I'll come out on top in the end, and few will try to follow.
I'm not all the way there yet -I still have days I'm not proud of- but this is one of my strong suits. I know I'm not going to die, so I can take a step back, regroup, and push onward.
What's your path to mental resilience look like?