Strength Through Adversity

August, 1993, I signed up for a canoe expedition with Outward Bound, a survival training.  At the end of the week of challenges, I felt more powerful than ever before--as if I could accomplish anything I wanted.  I discovered strength through overcoming the obstacles of the landscape.

Prior to the trip, I was often anxious about my daily survival--living from paycheck to paycheck, worrying about reaching my goals, and building relationships.  But after the trip, lessons of the expedition became life lessons. 

Trusting an inner resource of strength was the most important lesson.  The greater the adverse conditions, the more energy I exerted to meet the challenge, and the inner pool of resources opened.  I committed to building my awareness of this inner resource for all experiences of life and to develop the ability to maintain this connection.