Monday Madness

Tavia Robinson
6 days ago
2 min read

Monday Madness: Resilience Takes Courage

“I am sick and tired of being sick and tired."

-Fannie Lou Hamer

In 1964, civil rights leader Fannie Lou Hamer gave voice to collective exhaustion—naming what happens when people are forced to endure systems, conditions, and narratives that drain dignity, agency, and hope. Her words still resonate today, especially as leaders and teams navigate political polarization, economic uncertainty, climate disruptions, and winter’s emotional weight.

From a coaching lens, resilience is not about pushing harder—it’s about choosing differently.

True resilience begins with self-authorship: the courageous decision to stop engaging in patterns, environments, and expectations that compromise your well-being. As Stoic philosophy and modern leadership psychology remind us, resilience is not passive endurance—it is intentional alignment with what is values-based, sustainable, and within our control.

*The power lies in the commitment never to keep doing what makes you sick.

*The courage is found in the decision not to tire of doing what is right—for your health, your leadership, and your legacy.

In times of heightened stress, resilient leaders regulate first—emotionally, mentally, and physiologically—before they respond. They replace reactivity with reflection and scarcity thinking with grounded choice.

Today’s Affirmation: I give no thing power over me.

Coaching Reflections for You and Your Team

What are you genuinely sick and tired of carrying—emotionally, cognitively, or systemically?
Where might perseverance be turning into self-betrayal?
What belief, habit, or expectation are you ready to release to create space for renewal?
How are you modeling resilience for your team during uncertainty—through boundaries, communication, and self-regulation?

Consider using these questions in your next team check-in or leadership reflection.

Resilience grows in environments where people feel safe to tell the truth.

As we move through winter—both literally and metaphorically—remember:

Resilience is not about surviving the storm alone. It’s about choosing courage, clarity, and conscious leadership—again and again.

Resilience isn’t built by enduring what harms us—it’s strengthened when we choose ourselves with courage.

Be courageous...

You got this!

Coach Tavia, PCC, MSEd, MAT

References & Further Reading

Stoic Courage: How To Face Life’s Battles With Grit And Resilience – The Mindful Stoic
https://themindfulstoic.net/stoic-courage
The Power of Resilience: Overcoming Fear with Courage — FDCW
https://fdcw.org/the-power-of-resilience
Kets de Vries, M. The Psychodynamics of Resilience: Between Collapse and Renewal – Medium
https://medium.com/@ketsdevries/the-psychodynamics-of-resilience