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When I discuss mental resilience, I often highlight athletes, business leaders, or performers who have bounced back in dramatic ways. However, not all resilience appears in this way. Sometimes, it’s quiet, messy, and it shows up in the most unexpected places, like in a paintbrush held by someone in pain.
This week, I want to share the story of Frida Kahlo.
Her life was filled with suffering, but she didn’t just survive it, she expressed it. And in doing so, she created something powerful, raw, and unforgettable. Her version of resilience might surprise you, but it may be precisely what we need to hear.
Frida Kahlo
Mental resilience isn’t always heroic. Sometimes it’s slow, painful, and expressed one brushstroke at a time.
Born in Mexico in 1907, Frida contracted polio at age six, leaving one leg permanently weakened. But that was just the beginning. At 18, a horrific bus accident shattered her spine, pelvis, and leg. She spent months in a full-body cast and lived with chronic pain for the rest of her life.
Her dream of becoming a doctor was gone.
But in her isolation, something unexpected happened, she began to paint.
Lying flat in bed, she had a mirror placed above her and began painting self-portraits. These early works sparked the creative fire that would define her life. Her paintings were deeply personal, exploring themes of pain, identity, and survival.
Despite undergoing 30+ surgeries, long periods of being bedridden, and emotional struggle, Frida kept painting. Her art spoke what words couldn’t and helped others feel less alone.
Today, Frida Kahlo is recognised internationally not just as a painter but as a symbol of resilience, feminism, and creative defiance in the face of suffering.
5 Key Takeaways on Mental Resilience
- Pain can lead to purpose – Frida didn’t hide her suffering; she gave it shape. Resilient people don’t wait for the pain to pass, they find meaning in it.
- When life changes the plan, change the dream – She lost medicine but found art. Resilience means adjusting with purpose.
- Creativity is survival – Her brush was her therapy. Whether it’s art, music, or words, creativity helps us heal.
- Vulnerability is strength – She painted miscarriage, heartbreak, and disability. Resilience often means being brave enough to be vulnerable and be seen.
- Broken and brilliant can coexist – Frida’s body was fragile, but her spirit was fierce. She showed us that we don’t need to be perfect to shine.
Final Thoughts
Frida once said:
“At the end of the day, we can endure much more than we think we can.”
She lived that truth every day.
Her story isn’t about overcoming pain, it’s about creating beauty through it. That’s a different kind of strength. Quiet. Defiant. Enduring.
If you’re facing your own pain, physical, emotional, or spiritual, remember Frida. You don’t have to wait until you’re fully healed to begin. Start now, with whatever you have.
Because resilience isn’t about a perfect comeback, it’s about choosing to keep going.
I had my own challenges.
Like Frida, I know what it’s like to create something meaningful out of difficult times.
My journey didn’t involve art galleries or painting. Instead, it took me through burnout, money worries, and moments of deep self-doubt. I remember decorating houses just to pay the bills, wondering if I’d ever achieve my dream.
But something inside me kept me going.
Frida picked up a paintbrush, I picked up a microphone. Speaking, telling stories, and helping others became my way to heal and move forward. It wasn’t always easy. It was tough, sometimes lonely, but it was real.
That’s why Frida’s story speaks to me so strongly.
She didn’t wait until life was perfect. She created from the pain. And that’s what I’ve tried to do too, take the hard moments in my life and use them to support others.
We lived very different lives, but we both learned the same lesson: resilience isn’t about bouncing back perfectly. It’s about choosing to keep going, honestly and bravely.
So if you’re going through a hard time right now, don’t give up. That challenge might just become the part of your story that helps someone else one day.
Thoughts for the Week.
- What struggle in your life could become a source of strength or creativity?
- Could your setback become someone else’s encouragement?
- What’s one small step you can take today, even if things aren’t perfect?
- How have you grown through something you once thought would break you?
That’s it for this week. Have a wonderful weekend, and keep believing.
Warm regards,
John
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