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Rockin’ to Resilience
How Failure Helps Us Grow

Hi friends, Dr. Ruvvy here! 👋
Last week, I went bouldering for the first time at DYNO Detroit with a new friend. Bouldering is like rock climbing, however you do not use ropes; it’s just you and the rocks! (Or, in this case, a synthetic wall with lots of cushioning underneath 😉).
It was HARD, harder than I thought! There were 3 things I needed to do in order to be successful:
I had to listen.
My new friend, Sarah, is an experienced rock climber and ‘showed me the ropes’ (pun intended!).
I had to open my mind to learning something new and listening to her instructions. While I was climbing, I had to listen carefully as she helped guide me to choose my next hold on the wall.
👉 When we listen, we open ourselves up to new opportunities to learn.
I had to trust.
While I’ve done rope climbing before, I’ve never done bouldering. While I try to stay active, I was using muscles I normally don’t tap into!
I had to trust my body and my decision-making. In many aspects of our lives, making decisions can feel overwhelming.
👉 When we trust ourselves and when we prepare, we can meet new opportunities with confidence to make decisions that serve us and even do amazing things that might surprise us!
I had to fail.
In order to make it up the wall, I first had to fail. I had to fall, choose the wrong path, and honor when my body was too tired to keep going.
Then I had to rest, reset, incorporate what I had learned, and try again.
👉 Resilience isn’t about being naturally strong or getting everything right the first time. It’s about failing and learning from our failures; it’s about encountering obstacles and finding ways to overcome them.
For me, the climbing gym was a safe space to learn these lessons about resilience and practice learning, trust, and failure in order to grow. 🌱
What is your safe space for growth? 💭
We can create spaces for cultivating resilience for the youth in our lives in every day settings—whether it’s at home, at school, through activities like sports, arts, or service, and in community spaces. That’s what we here at the Ruvvy Resilience Lab aim to do.

The Greenhouse of the Mind:
Resources to Help You Bloom

Join us at Voices Unlocked on Thursday, September 25th for an inspiring evening of music, storytelling, and conversation. This event is designed to break the silence, fight stigma, and strengthen mental health in our community. 🎶
Stop by our booth to connect with the Ruvvy Resilience Lab and learn more about our work supporting youth resilience and mental health. 🌱🧠
Highlights include:
- Live music & creative performances 🎤
- TED-style talks & real stories 💭
- Resource booths from local organizations (including us!) 🤝
Doors open at 6 PM | Program begins at 7 PM
🚗 Paid venue & street parking available
💚 FREE & open to all — bring a friend and join us in amplifying voices together!
To register and learn more follow this link:
https://tinyurl.com/49j5th9p.
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Join Our Team at the Ruvvy Resilience Lab!
We’re excited to announce that the Ruvvy Resilience Lab is growing, and we’re looking for passionate individuals to join us. Interested and qualified applicants can email our lab manager, Ujala Janjua, at [email protected] with a copy of their CV/resume and a cover letter stating their interest in the position.
See the attached files for details….
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