The Rising Strong Process: Navigating Life’s Challenges with Courage and Resilience

Life is full of moments when we face setbacks, disappointments, and failures. Whether it’s a failed project, a conflict in a relationship, or simply a day when things don’t seem to go right, these moments are inevitable. But how we respond to them can make all the difference in our journey towards growth and fulfilment. This is where Brené Brown’s Rising Strong process comes into play.

In her book Rising Strong, Brené Brown—a researcher known for her work on vulnerability, courage, and shame—introduces a powerful framework for dealing with these tough moments. The Rising Strong process is about learning how to get back up after we fall, how to face our emotions head-on, and how to emerge from our struggles stronger and more resilient. It’s not about avoiding pain, but about embracing it as a pathway to deeper understanding and personal growth.

Understanding the Rising Strong Process

The Rising Strong process consists of three key stages: The Reckoning, The Rumble, and The Revolution. Each stage represents a critical part of our journey towards healing and transformation.

1. The Reckoning: Owning Our Stories

The first stage, The Reckoning, is about recognising and owning the emotions and thoughts that arise when we experience a setback. It’s easy to dismiss or ignore our feelings when things go wrong, but The Reckoning invites us to pause and become curious about what’s really happening inside us.

In The Reckoning, we begin by acknowledging that something has triggered an emotional response. This might be anger, sadness, fear, or any number of other emotions. Instead of pushing these feelings aside, we start to pay attention to them. Brené Brown often describes this process as “walking into our story”—we allow ourselves to be fully present with our emotions, even when it’s uncomfortable.

This stage is about getting real with ourselves. It’s about noticing the stories we immediately begin to tell ourselves when things go wrong. These stories are often driven by our emotions and may not be entirely accurate. For example, if someone cancels plans with us, we might quickly jump to the conclusion that they don’t care about us. In The Reckoning, we catch ourselves in these moments and recognise that these stories might be more about our own fears and insecurities than the actual situation.

The key to The Reckoning is curiosity. Instead of judging ourselves or others, we ask questions like: “What’s really going on here? What am I feeling? Why am I reacting this way?” This curiosity helps us to start untangling the complex web of emotions and thoughts that arise when we’re faced with difficulty.

2. The Rumble: Facing the Truth

The second stage, The Rumble, is where the real work begins. After acknowledging our emotions and stories in The Reckoning, The Rumble is about digging deeper. It’s the process of challenging our assumptions, confronting our fears, and wrestling with the truths we might not want to face.

In The Rumble, we take a closer look at the stories we’ve been telling ourselves. We ask tough questions like: “What are the facts? What are my assumptions? What’s the story I’m making up in my head, and how does it differ from reality?” This stage requires vulnerability and honesty, both with ourselves and with others.

Brené Brown describes The Rumble as a place of deep discomfort. It’s where we start to unpack our emotions and examine the beliefs that drive our behaviours. For instance, if we’re rumbling with feelings of unworthiness after a rejection, we might explore where those feelings come from. Are they tied to past experiences? Are they rooted in a fear of not being enough? The Rumble is about getting to the heart of these issues, even when it’s painful.

One of the most important aspects of The Rumble is learning to sit with discomfort without rushing to resolve it. In a culture that often seeks quick fixes and instant gratification, The Rumble teaches us that growth comes from staying in the messy, complicated space of not having all the answers. It’s about being patient with ourselves as we work through difficult emotions and challenging beliefs.

The Rumble is also about seeking clarity. This might involve having difficult conversations with others to clear up misunderstandings or to express our needs and boundaries. It’s about being willing to be vulnerable and to listen, even when it’s hard. Through The Rumble, we begin to transform our understanding of ourselves and our situations.

3. The Revolution: Transforming Our Lives

The final stage of the Rising Strong process is The Revolution. After reckoning with our emotions and rumbling with our stories, The Revolution is about using what we’ve learned to create lasting change in our lives. It’s where we take the insights we’ve gained and apply them to how we live, how we relate to others, and how we move forward.

The Revolution is about rewriting our stories in a way that empowers us. It’s about recognising that while we can’t always control what happens to us, we can choose how we respond. The Revolution is where we make a conscious decision to rise strong, to be brave, and to live with more authenticity and courage.

In this stage, we reflect on what we’ve learned through The Reckoning and The Rumble. We might ask ourselves: “How has this experience changed me? What new insights have I gained? How can I use this knowledge to create a more fulfilling and resilient life?” The Revolution is about taking these lessons and integrating them into our daily lives. It invites us to step into our own power, to live in alignment with our values, and to create a life that honours who we truly are. 

The Revolution also has a ripple effect. When we ‘rise strong’, we inspire others to do the same. Our courage and resilience become a source of strength for those around us. We create a culture where vulnerability is embraced, where mistakes are seen as opportunities for growth, and where everyone is encouraged to bring their whole selves to the table.

Why the Rising Strong Process Matters

The Rising Strong process is not just a tool for personal growth—it’s a guide for living a more courageous and authentic life. It reminds us that falling down is a part of the human experience, but it’s how we get back up that defines us. By engaging in The Reckoning, The Rumble, and The Revolution, we learn to navigate life’s challenges with resilience and grace.

For those of us who identify as quiet or sensitive, the Rising Strong process is particularly empowering. It teaches us that our emotions are not something to be feared or suppressed, but rather a source of wisdom and strength. It encourages us to lean into our discomfort, to trust in our ability to grow, and to create a life that reflects our true selves.

In a world that often values loudness and assertiveness, the Rising Strong process offers a different path—one that honours the power of quiet resilience and the courage to be vulnerable. It’s a reminder that our strength lies not in avoiding pain, but in embracing it as a part of our journey towards becoming the fullest, most authentic version of ourselves.

Final Thoughts

The Rising Strong process is a powerful framework for anyone seeking to live with more courage, resilience, and authenticity. It’s about recognising that our setbacks and struggles are not the end of our story, but the beginning of a new chapter.

By engaging in The Reckoning, The Rumble, and The Revolution, we learn to work with our emotions, to challenge the stories we tell ourselves, and to transform our lives in meaningful ways. It’s a journey that requires vulnerability, patience, and a willingness to be uncomfortable, but the rewards are profound. 

So, the next time you find yourself facing a difficult moment, remember the Rising Strong process. Give yourself permission to feel, to explore, and to grow. Embrace the messy, beautiful process of rising strong, and know that in doing so, you’re not only transforming your own life but also creating a ripple effect of courage and resilience in the world around you. Together, we can rise strong and create a life that truly reflects who we are at our core. 

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