From Tragedy to Transformation: Harnessing Our Indomitable Spirit

After this week’s bombing at the Boston Marathon, I wrote an article on the importance of harnessing our indomitable spirit in tragic times for the Huffington Post. As more details are unveiled hourly, it becomes more  important to tap into our unconquerable spirits to get through the terror of this event and, eventually, begin to heal. The following is a section from my recent article I find to be just as relevant today as is was hours after the bombing.

For all those affected by the recent tragedy, I hope you may find wisdom and direction from the ancient Korean Martial Arts doctrine that I learned years ago in Tae Kwon Do. The fifth tenet is: indomitable spirit. 

Baek-jeol-bul-gul / 백절불굴

The word indomitable means “unconquerable,” or impossible to defeat or frighten. The “spirit” is the person’s core being, their willpower, cheerful & positive attitude, and desire to succeed. Having an “indomitable spirit” means that your fortitude, enthusiasm, and moral character are never diminished regardless of the hardships and adversities you face. Your determination to prevail is never vanquished, even in the face of what appears to be insurmountable odds, or seemingly overwhelming opponents. This concept is reflected in the following popular saying: “It is not so much the size of the dog in the fight, as the size of the fight in the dog.”

Continue reading at the Huffington Post  for examples of inspirational people who found their indomitable spirit when faced with personal tragedy.

Share this Article with Your Friends:
  • Print
  • Digg
  • StumbleUpon
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Yahoo! Buzz
  • Twitter
  • Google Bookmarks
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS
Add Comment Register



Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Connect with Facebook

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>

Email Newsletters with Constant Contact