The Journey of Resilience Samantha Campbell, RPQ

“It’s not how you start that’s important, but how you finish!” ― Jim George

Life has truly been a journey for me. A journey that gave me many reasons to just give up and not care. A journey of pain, distress, confusion, and sadness. I can go on and on about the unfortunate situations of my journey, but I will not be doing much justice to my life’s story. The truth is, despite the hardship that I have endured during my life’s journey, it has strengthened me and allowed me to see that I am blessed, and I am called for a purpose.

When God impresses you to do something, you must stay focus and push through with his guidance to ensure that his plans is completed. It appeared that there was a plan for me to not continue in life and pursue my dreams. However, through all I have been through and still going through, I never lost my praise and that is what kept me through with the grace of God. Throughout my life, I have been comforted with these two scriptures below:

“But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.”- Job 23:10 (NIV)

“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”- Philippians 1:6 (NIV).

In my low moments, even when I tried to give up it did not work because there was that sense of guilt that made me felt that they were selfish thoughts. Therefore, in my uncomfortable state, there was always that urge to turn my negative situations into something positive to make a difference. Each time I tried to press forward, there was always something that presented itself as a setback. However, Jesus revealed to me my “why”. I talk more about my why me moment in my book “Our Life’s Journey: The Past, The Present, The Future.”

“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (NIV)

I was inspired to write a book because of the encouragement of my husband and the spiritual confirmation of the Lord. Writing was a form of therapy for me, and it was my way of telling my testimony. For me to become resilient, I had to learn to slow down and practice self-care. As a result, I learnt more about myself and I was able to appreciate my life’s journey better. Thanks to my supervisor Elvis Baah-Gyebi, I now appreciate the importance of self-care and valuing myself first. As I got to know myself better, I am now more equipped to be a Psychotherapist, and be able to own my talents.

Sometimes one must have a clear vision of where they are going for there to be some form of motivation to press on. I have turned my why me? to why not me? I have learnt how to identify, affirm, and express how I feel. I struggled with confidence, hiding behind my talents not embracing what I can do. However, by practicing self-affirmation and accepting genuine compliments, my confidence increased.

Throughout my life’s journey, I was always reminded that my life is not my own and I don’t live for myself only but others around me. In other words, every decision I make in life, has either a negative or a positive consequence or impact. Therefore, I want my life to be meaningful, and I want to share my story to encourage others. As a Psychotherapist (RPQ), I am better able to relate with my clients, because I have gone through certain experiences that I can use to bring hope to others.