Resilience isn’t a trait, it’s a practice. It’s built in the shadows when no one’s watching.

The resilience I’ve built was forged long before I lost my limbs. It was in the training, the early mornings, the discipline, the choices. And it’s those same habits that keep me strong today.

I win the morning. I prioritise discipline over motivation. I reframe challenges. I protect my inputs. I track progress. I embrace discomfort & I do my best to serve others.

These habits aren’t fancy, but they work. Resilience isn’t about being untouched by struggle. It’s about being unstoppable in spite of it. And anyone can build that. One rep at a time.

1. Win the Morning Before the World Gets a Say

The world throws chaos at you the second you pick up your phone. So don’t let it be the first thing that gets your attention.. Every morning, before I let the outside world in, I check in with myself. That might be journaling. It might be breathing, stretching, or just sitting in silence for five minutes. It’s about owning the first moments of the day.

If you don’t program your mind for what you want, it’ll default to stress, distraction, and fear as well as what everyone else wants.

2. Make Discipline Non-Negotiable

Motivation comes and goes. Discipline is what shows up when motivation doesn’t. Even on the days I don’t feel like it, I move my body. I fuel it with what it needs. I do what I said I’d do. Not because I always want to, but because that’s who I am.

And here’s the thing: every time you follow through when it’s hard, your brain remembers. It builds a mental library of wins. And that’s what you draw on when life gets rough.

3. Reframe the Tough Stuff

Life isn’t fair. Bad things happen to good people. But what matters most is how you respond.

I don’t ask, “Why me?” I ask, “What can I learn from this?” or “How can I grow from this”

I didn’t lose my limbs and get handed a new life. I built it. I learned to walk again. I chose to speak, coach, and compete. That wasn’t positive thinking, it was powerful thinking. It was about using pain as fuel.

Reframing doesn’t mean pretending things aren’t hard. It means refusing to let hardship define you.

4. Control the Inputs

Resilience isn’t just about what you do, it’s also about what you allow in. I don’t fill my head with doomscrolling and negativity. I guard my energy. I follow people who challenge and inspire me. I read books that sharpen my mind. I eat food that fuels my body.

If you’re constantly surrounded by drama, chaos, and low standards, don’t be surprised when your mindset starts to slip.

Curate your environment. Be ruthless about it.

5. Celebrate Progress, Not Perfection

I’ve coached CEOs, athletes, veterans, and everyday people trying to level up. The one thing they all get wrong? They beat themselves up for not being perfect.

Resilience isn’t about never falling. It’s about getting back up faster each time.

Track your wins, small ones, too. Give yourself credit when you show up, when you push through, when you choose strength over comfort. That momentum is what keeps you in the game.

Bonus Habit: Service Over Self-Pity

If you’re stuck in your own head, if you’re feeling down, unmotivated or useless the quickest way out is to serve someone else.

When I share my story, it’s not just about me. It’s about giving others permission to overcome their challenges. When I coach, it’s about lifting others up and changing their mindset. That mindset shift – from me to mission – is rocket fuel for resilience.

It’s hard to feel powerless when you’re empowering someone else.

Final Thoughts: Resilience Is Earned

You don’t build resilience by talking about it. You build it by doing hard things, consistently, even when no one’s watching.

And the best part? You don’t need a big tragedy to start. You can start today, right where you are.

– Wake up 30 minutes earlier.
– Do the workout.
– Put your phone down.
– Have the hard conversation.
– Show up even when it’s uncomfortable.

That’s how you become unbreakable.

Need help building that mindset every day?
Grab The 1% Mindset journal or connect with me at Kaizen Summit. I’ll help you install the habits that build warriors – not just survivors.