Survivor has been on TV for what seems like forever. Back in the day, I'd watch the show just about every week. One of the immunity challenges still stands out in my memory. It was a challenge to see who would outlast everyone else.
All ten survivors stood on poles surrounded by water. When a person lost their balance and fell off, they were disqualified. The whole competition lasted longer than anyone thought it would. Into the night three cold and tired competitors were still standing. The winner lasted 10 hours and 18 minutes!
What kept them up on that pole?
Toughness.
Think about metal. Some metal has the ability to bend without breaking. The toughest metal can handle a lot of stress and strain.
There's something to be said about metal toughness and mental toughness.
So here's the thing. Even if you're hanging on by a thread, hang on. It doesn't matter how many times you've been knocked down. Get back up. Keep on keeping on.
Gordon MacDonald describes these types of people like this: "The further they run, the stronger they get."