Do you find meaning, or do you forge them? ![](https://i.imgur.com/qSoRn59.jpg) [Image Source](https://pixabay.com/en/man-board-drawing-muscles-strong-2037255/) The writer, [Andrew Solomon](http://andrewsolomon.com/) latest book was about how families manage to deal with challenging or unusual offspring. One of the mothers he has interviewed had 2 kids with multiple severe disabilities. The mother said >My children are not preordained as gifts. They're gifts because that's what we've chosen. ### We make those choices all our lives. ![](https://i.imgur.com/69lw2y5.jpg) [Image Source](https://unsplash.com/photos/aoN3HWLbhdI) Andrew is a gay American. He never went to the school cafeteria where he was laughed at for sitting with the girls for doing so. And he was laughed at for sitting with the boys when he should sit with the girls. One of the school kids on his bus nicknamed him "Percy" as a symbol of his appearance. They chanted "Percy, Percy, Percy" the entire school bus ride, 45 minutes to and fro. ![](https://i.imgur.com/AAsszkg.jpg) [Image Source](https://pixabay.com/en/bus-school-kids-students-parking-2224350/) Andrew survived his school life with avoidance and endurance. He do know now that avoidance and endurance could be the gateway to forging meaning. ### Andrew's mantra is **Forge meaning, Build identity**. Forge meaning is creating reasons behind every event that unfolds in our lives. They're never "unfortunate". They always happen for a reason that you may not see it right now. Build identity is make traumas become a part of who you've come to be and turn those events into narrative of triumph, revealing a better self in response to hurtful things. >When we're ashamed, we can't tell stories. And stories are foundations of our identity. >*By Andrew Solomon* Looking back at people who have inspired me with their stories of failure and them bouncing back, and they're gratefulness for failures have shaped them who they are today. They shared their stories to the world. That is **Forge meaning, Build identity**. That is how they draw strength from major challenges. Andrew has triggered a memory in me. ### My 6-week China internship screwed up half way. ![](https://i.imgur.com/MevN06N.jpg) [Image Source](https://pixabay.com/en/wooden-gate-barn-closed-594188/) The project closed down 2 weeks later and volunteers like me had to choose to go back or go to another projects. All of the volunteers chose to stay in China and go sightseeing. And I had to make a choice. To go back, or go sightseeing or continue volunteering. I've taken the road less traveled, I chose to continue volunteering. I went down south, to Guangzhou, alone to begin my new project with a new bunch of awesome volunteers. ![](https://i.imgur.com/jrs5BCB.jpg) Picture taken by me Looking back, I am a person of purpose, and reasons are my primary motivations and direction. I am grateful that I adhered to my purpose and chose to volunteer because that's what I'm here for. I am not here to sightseeing. That event has challenged me to stay true to my purpose, my values. It could've marked the beginning of my journey in searching for my purpose. ### Forge meaning, Build Identity Create meaning out of hurtful (or non hurtful) events and make it a part of you, a part of your triumph. Tell stories about them, how they've made you who you are today. ### What meanings would you forge from your past traumas? --- Related posts that you might want to read, [5 Great Life Lessons Learned From an Unexpected Conversation in My Office](https://steemit.com/writing/@tifaong/5-great-life-lessons-learned-from-an-unexpected-conversation-in-my-offic) [Is It Wrong to Have Low Expectations so that You'll Be Happy?](https://steemit.com/writing/@tifaong/is-it-wrong-to-have-low-expectations-so-that-you-ll-be-happy) [Some Dream of Success while Some Wake up and Work Hard for It](https://steemit.com/motivation/@tifaong/some-dream-of-success-while-some-wake-up-and-work-hard-for-it) --- @tifaong writes simple and positive practices and ideas that you can learn (or re-learn) and apply in your life immediately. She covers life lessons, self-help, relationships, and motivational contents. Her mission is to spread positivity so that we can live a happier, fulfilling life. Check out her [profile here](https://steemit.com/@tifaong) to find out more 😁 She has committed to post daily, so rest assured that you will find something new everyday. <center>https://s9.postimg.org/motv1shf3/tifaong_banner.png </center> <center>She is also a proud member of, ### #Newbieresteemday ![](https://s17.postimg.org/7r3g7glf3/image.png) ### #Greetersguild ![](https://s17.postimg.org/4k8wnvizj/image.jpg) Follow [@greetersguild](https://steemit.com/@greetersguild) and join us on discord to learn more (newbies and non newbies welcome). We are always looking for more Greeters to join our team! [https://discord.gg/3jYNPUx](https://discord.gg/3jYNPUx "This link will take you away from steemit.com") ### Qurator [<img src="https://steemitimages.com/DQmarWRv4wXiqPZbmtDCDRTwE5jewDQrG1ATrXcFrTThxht/Gifbanner.gif">](https://steemit.com/qurator/@qurator/qurator-3-0-update-post-guidelines-or-registration-details-or-tier-changes) ### SmartSteem <a href="https://smartsteem.com?r=tifaong" target="_blank"><img src="https://smartsteem.com/static/smartsteem_banner.gif" /></a> </center>
post_id | 42,794,823 |
---|---|
author | tifaong |
permlink | how-people-with-major-challenges-seem-to-draw-strength-from-them |
category | writing |
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created | 2018-04-09 16:29:03 |
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pharesim | 0 | 78,177,455,842 | 0.02% | ||
kushed | 0 | 18,037,415,442 | 0.13% | ||
kevinwong | 0 | 536,379,701,561 | 9.29% | ||
anwenbaumeister | 0 | 12,933,044,974 | 0.13% | ||
liberosist | 0 | 3,840,049,371 | 0.13% | ||
arconite | 0 | 2,964,348,442 | 4.64% | ||
skyefox | 0 | 8,241,262,607 | 100% | ||
meerkat | 0 | 32,455,642,605 | 0.13% | ||
curie | 0 | 23,349,725,362 | 0.13% | ||
poeticammo | 0 | 1,507,039,700 | 6.53% | ||
hendrikdegrote | 0 | 258,013,550,750 | 0.14% | ||
oleg326756 | 0 | 207,121,917 | 0.17% | ||
styleyfrancky | 0 | 59,417,514 | 10% | ||
hightouch | 0 | 64,440,530,165 | 100% | ||
sixexgames | 0 | 6,145,886,383 | 100% | ||
pacokam8 | 0 | 83,641,281 | 0.03% | ||
dr-boo | 0 | 4,583,591,047 | 100% | ||
vaelriey | 0 | 1,634,379,725 | 13.07% | ||
melooo182 | 0 | 4,588,246,901 | 100% | ||
scrooger | 0 | 212,795,321 | 0.12% | ||
jonny-clearwater | 0 | 596,309,814,741 | 70% | ||
bitrocker2020 | 0 | 17,233,946,798 | 31% | ||
freddyfish | 0 | 15,116,353,827 | 100% | ||
locikll | 0 | 211,247,686 | 0.26% | ||
mahdiyari | 0 | 335,731,566 | 0.06% | ||
blacklux | 0 | 105,808,408 | 0.08% | ||
aboutyourbiz | 0 | 105,465,060 | 0.13% | ||
howtostartablog | 0 | 775,863,763 | 1.3% | ||
bew | 0 | 9,849,780,520 | 100% | ||
cryptokrieg | 0 | 121,163,286 | 0.13% | ||
mackcom | 0 | 7,139,881,054 | 100% | ||
mystifact | 0 | 6,315,326,012 | 100% | ||
tngflx | 0 | 283,869,159 | 0.65% | ||
coloringiship | 0 | 2,495,109,300 | 10% | ||
thinknzombie | 0 | 1,564,548,520 | 0.06% | ||
jrswab | 0 | 42,578,902,353 | 100% | ||
donc | 0 | 19,029,330,489 | 100% | ||
justdentist | 0 | 594,515,339 | 1% | ||
theleapingkoala | 0 | 131,196,299 | 0.21% | ||
samiwhyte | 0 | 95,028,213 | 0.08% | ||
webresultat | 0 | 9,034,365,983 | 100% | ||
ddangerwu | 0 | 49,390,911,104 | 100% | ||
cryptoprice | 0 | 15,899,946,599 | 100% | ||
snowpea | 0 | 161,422,307 | 5% | ||
synace | 0 | 17,693,876,482 | 100% | ||
stephanie-hakel | 0 | 45,463,534,433 | 100% | ||
teammalaysia | 0 | 472,868,169 | 13.07% | ||
jordanx2 | 0 | 59,409,806 | 0.06% | ||
littleboy | 0 | 127,178,036,306 | 100% | ||
afukichi | 0 | 2,020,817,032 | 100% | ||
qurator | 0 | 46,695,194,528 | 0.85% | ||
peaceandwar | 0 | 161,972,903 | 0.06% | ||
halcyondaze | 0 | 11,801,090,418 | 100% | ||
kieranpearson | 0 | 53,913,160 | 0.03% | ||
captainklaus | 0 | 6,039,325,236 | 100% | ||
notimetospace | 0 | 159,047,479 | 0.65% | ||
myach | 0 | 4,308,373,842 | 6.53% | ||
branlee87 | 0 | 810,643,550 | 10% | ||
bypaul | 0 | 20,182,241,868 | 100% | ||
jbn | 0 | 18,987,855,164 | 100% | ||
hadebaryor | 0 | 894,876,060 | 13.07% | ||
sireh | 0 | 3,917,477,613 | 10% | ||
perfectsense | 0 | 4,534,573,271 | 100% | ||
iqbaladan | 0 | 4,622,586,832 | 100% | ||
diamondray | 0 | 2,039,986,173 | 2.61% | ||
zalandir | 0 | 147,623,964 | 0.06% | ||
steembasicincome | 0 | 10,690,805,516 | 2% | ||
piszozo | 0 | 6,955,538,501 | 100% | ||
jabedalamjasha | 0 | 162,343,008 | 100% | ||
iwanderela | 0 | 1,194,799,905 | 1% | ||
gordon92 | 0 | 894,541,771 | 13.07% | ||
stahlberg | 0 | 411,529,144 | 1.3% | ||
calebleejl | 0 | 218,360,577 | 2.61% | ||
crypto3d | 0 | 2,053,646,869 | 5% | ||
echavez82 | 0 | 52,182,857 | 10% | ||
anthonydigital1 | 0 | 28,318,017,117 | 100% | ||
denion | 0 | 1,118,800,921 | 50% | ||
peppermint24 | 0 | 53,237,992 | 0.04% | ||
jeenger | 0 | 18,688,235,665 | 100% | ||
dynamicrypto | 0 | 150,677,774 | 1% | ||
williamsyee | 0 | 1,139,418,179 | 100% | ||
katscorner | 0 | 10,742,345,838 | 100% | ||
leguidecrypto | 0 | 10,516,739,639 | 100% | ||
svkrulze | 0 | 8,809,055,491 | 100% | ||
punwik | 0 | 5,242,207,331 | 100% | ||
ariel.dominique | 0 | 872,639,384 | 100% | ||
nicholaschung | 0 | 590,979,758 | 100% | ||
melissasum | 0 | 596,808,664 | 100% | ||
kellychua | 0 | 608,593,108 | 100% | ||
abiramimahadevan | 0 | 615,381,151 | 100% | ||
cheahjialin | 0 | 611,820,821 | 100% | ||
kartiyani | 0 | 603,616,599 | 100% | ||
kertnahlydia | 0 | 612,468,936 | 100% | ||
evonne | 0 | 614,521,823 | 100% | ||
timlee | 0 | 286,262,780 | 60% | ||
babysloth | 0 | 5,571,189,579 | 100% | ||
tzeching | 0 | 610,961,687 | 100% | ||
robin5581 | 0 | 32,726,827,041 | 100% | ||
passive | 0 | 20,846,965,399 | 100% | ||
tamala | 0 | 9,173,839,274 | 100% | ||
yenthng | 0 | 614,163,773 | 100% | ||
zipporah | 0 | 151,737,209 | 0.02% | ||
joezz | 0 | 596,649,574 | 100% | ||
sissyjill | 0 | 52,960,930 | 7% | ||
doctorspence | 0 | 9,200,072,159 | 100% | ||
redheadpei | 0 | 70,539,743 | 5% | ||
positiveninja | 0 | 112,044,392 | 0.06% | ||
nopenotagain | 0 | 589,435,680 | 100% | ||
wil1liam | 0 | 9,744,166,226 | 100% | ||
mwfiae | 0 | 205,763,751 | 0.08% | ||
irmeyhamidi | 0 | 56,128,194 | 6.53% | ||
theunlimited | 0 | 52,225,947 | 10% | ||
dshelton32 | 0 | 24,500,024,967 | 100% | ||
mrsaladd | 0 | 65,530,131 | 10% | ||
liewsc | 0 | 56,014,907 | 3.92% | ||
silviagoh | 0 | 156,283,654 | 6.53% | ||
superoo7-dev | 0 | 1,731,449,687 | 13.07% | ||
vaughndemont | 0 | 6,083,347,930 | 100% | ||
janicechua | 0 | 2,384,610,539 | 100% | ||
creativecrypto | 0 | 514,037,127,297 | 50% | ||
asherlee | 0 | 206,697,599 | 6.53% | ||
pi50000 | 0 | 17,861,901,936 | 100% | ||
roak | 0 | 122,671,303 | 100% | ||
jody.potato | 0 | 612,592,984 | 100% | ||
imprezza | 0 | 123,359,423 | 100% | ||
niouton | 0 | 128,948,459 | 0.02% | ||
seyahatnamem | 0 | 612,521,282 | 100% | ||
brighttux | 0 | 67,275,920 | 13.07% | ||
steemitdojo | 0 | 89,364,071 | 15.5% |
Very awesome sharing ! I love this quote : stories are foundation of our identity.
post_id | 42,841,874 |
---|---|
author | janicechua |
permlink | re-tifaong-how-people-with-major-challenges-seem-to-draw-strength-from-them-20180410t000510796z |
category | writing |
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Thank you very much @janicechua. Yeah, sharing your stories are really awesome! Listening to other people's stories is even more awesome, you wouldn't know what the other person has gone through.
post_id | 42,967,839 |
---|---|
author | tifaong |
permlink | re-janicechua-re-tifaong-how-people-with-major-challenges-seem-to-draw-strength-from-them-20180410t191017709z |
category | writing |
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#### You've been upvoted by **TeamMalaysia** community. Do checkout other posts made by other **TeamMalaysia** authors at http://steemit.com/created/teammalaysia To support the growth of TeamMalaysia Follow our upvotes by using **steemauto.com** and follow trail of @myach Vote **TeamMalaysia** witness bitrocker2020 using this link <a href="https://v2.steemconnect.com/sign/account-witness-vote?witness=bitrocker2020&approve=true">vote for witness</a>
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permlink | how-people-with-major-challenges-seem-to-draw-strength-from-them |
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Hello @tifaong, thank you for sharing this creative work! If you're interested, take a look at our magazine @creativecrypto. We are all about art on the blockchain, and learning from creatives like you. Swing by and say hello!
post_id | 43,287,891 |
---|---|
author | creativecrypto |
permlink | re-how-people-with-major-challenges-seem-to-draw-strength-from-them-20180412t185634 |
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Hey @creativecrypto, thank you for reading and dropping a comment. I love what you're doing, highlighting the unsung creative cryptos :) Looking forward to more of your work :)
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permlink | re-creativecrypto-re-how-people-with-major-challenges-seem-to-draw-strength-from-them-20180412t185634-20180412t194547701z |
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