Turning Setbacks into Strength

How Challenges Shape Your Greatest Comebacks

I’ve learned something in my time on this earth—pain has a purpose. Failure, loss, betrayal, and hardship don’t just happen to us; they happen for us. I know that might sound crazy, especially when you're sitting in the middle of a storm, feeling like life has hit you harder than you can handle. But I’m telling you this because I’ve lived it. I’ve seen rock bottom. I’ve been knocked down so hard that getting up felt impossible. And yet, I did.

So, if you’re here wondering how to turn your pain into power, how to take a setback and shape it into a comeback—pull up a chair. Let’s talk about how adversity can become the fuel for your greatest transformation.

Resilience: Why Some Rise and Others Fall

Resilience isn’t just some motivational buzzword—it’s a scientifically backed trait that determines whether you'll break under pressure or come back stronger.

Studies from Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child reveal that resilience isn’t something you’re born with; it’s something that can be built. Research shows that people who thrive after hardship develop certain mindsets and habits that allow them to adapt, learn, and push forward.

Yale University’s research on post-traumatic growth (PTG) found that people who face extreme adversity often experience profound personal transformation—stronger relationships, deeper appreciation for life, greater personal strength, and a new sense of purpose. 

In other words, the struggle doesn’t just change you—it can elevate you.

Take a look at history. Some of the most successful people on the planet didn’t just experience setbacks; they built their legacies on them.

• Oprah Winfrey was fired from her first TV job and told she wasn’t “fit for television.”

• Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team.

• Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in prison before becoming the leader who changed South Africa forever.

• Albert Einstein was labeled “slow” as a child and struggled in school.

  
  

Every one of these individuals took what could have destroyed them and turned it into fuel for their comeback. The same is possible for you.

Stanford psychologist Dr. Carol Dweck developed the concept of the Growth Mindset—the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through effort, learning, and persistence. People with a fixed mindset see failure as proof that they’re not good enough. But those with a growth mindset see failure as a lesson, an opportunity, a stepping stone.

The question is—how do you shift your mindset?

1. Reframe Your Setback as a Setup

Your struggles are not roadblocks. They’re stepping stones. Ask yourself: What is this experience trying to teach me? Instead of seeing failure as an ending, see it as the start of something new.

2. Take Ownership of the Comeback Story

Nobody is coming to save you. That might be a hard truth to swallow, but your breakthrough depends on you. When I was sitting in a prison cell serving a life sentence, I had two choices: I could give up, or I could use my time to rebuild my mind, my faith, and my purpose. I chose the latter, and it changed my life.

3. Surround Yourself with Resilient People

The people you keep close matter. Research from MIT’s Human Dynamics Laboratory found that resilience is contagious. When you’re around people who push forward despite hardship, you start doing the same. Find mentors, friends, and role models who refuse to let setbacks define them.

Building a Stronger Mind for Long-Term Success

Turning setbacks into strength isn’t about pretending things aren’t hard. It’s about developing mental habits that keep you grounded, focused, and unshakable even in the face of adversity. Here are fresh, powerful ways to train your mind for success:

1. Develop the Habit of Small Wins

Success isn’t built overnight—it’s built in small, consistent victories. Studies from Harvard Business Review show that celebrating small wins triggers dopamine in the brain, reinforcing motivation and momentum. Start each day with a simple goal: Drink water, read ten pages of a book, make your bed. These micro-achievements rewire your brain to expect success.

2. Visualize Your Future Self

Your setbacks don’t define you, but the vision you hold for yourself does. Elite athletes, CEOs, and world leaders use visualization to train their minds to win. Picture yourself already achieving your comeback—see yourself in the career you want, in the relationships you desire, living the life you are building. Science shows that the brain doesn’t differentiate between visualization and reality—it builds pathways to make your vision real.

3. Shift from Problem-Focused to Solution-Focused Thinking

When something goes wrong, do you dwell on it, or do you immediately start looking for solutions? Columbia University research found that solution-oriented thinking leads to higher problem-solving efficiency, better stress management, and long-term success. Every challenge holds an opportunity—train yourself to look for it.

A Real-Life Comeback

If you ever feel like life has knocked you down too hard to get back up, let me remind you of Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson’s story. Before he became one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood, Johnson faced a series of crushing setbacks.

At 23, he was broke, cut from his dream career in professional football, and living in his parents’ small apartment with just $7 in his pocket.

His dream was gone, and he had no backup plan.

But instead of letting failure define him, he used it as fuel. He pivoted to professional wrestling, where he faced rejection, ridicule, and early failures. Yet, he refused to quit. He reinvented himself, honed his craft, and worked relentlessly until he became one of the most electrifying entertainers in WWE history.

From there, he transitioned into Hollywood, where he faced more doubts, but once again, he proved the world wrong. Today, he’s not just a box-office superstar—he’s an entrepreneur, motivational leader, and a walking testament to resilience.

Johnson often speaks about the power of perseverance, saying: “I like to use the hard times of the past to motivate me today.” That’s the mindset that separates those who stay down from those who rise. He took every setback, every rejection, and every closed door and turned it into an opportunity to push forward.

His story proves that setbacks don’t mean the end of the road. They’re just detours leading you to a path you never expected—one that might be even greater than the one you originally envisioned. The key is to keep pushing forward, even when life seems to have other plans.

From Setback to Strength: Your Action Plan

Turning pain into power isn’t just about having the right mindset—it’s about taking action. Here’s your roadmap:

• Rewrite Your Story – Instead of saying, “This happened to me,” say, “This happened for me.” Find the lesson in the hardship.

  
  

• Set a Goal Bigger Than the Pain – Whether it’s launching a business, getting your education, rebuilding relationships, or giving back, find a mission that makes your struggle worth it.

  
  

• Develop Daily Disciplines – Small, consistent actions create momentum. Start your mornings with intention—read, pray, write, work out—whatever strengthens your spirit.

  
  

• Refuse to Be a Victim – You are not what happened to you. You are what you choose to become after it.

  
  

• Help Others Rise – One of the greatest ways to transform pain is to help someone else through theirs. Give your struggle a purpose.

  
  

commit to rise

I won’t lie to you—turning a setback into strength takes work and belief in yourself. But it’s absolutely possible. The same pain that tried to break you can be the very thing that builds you. Once your in motion the pain throbs a different way, its no longer weakening you but rather strengthening you -daily.

It’s not about avoiding failure; it’s about learning how to rise after it.

So here’s my challenge to you: What will you do with your setback? 

Will it be the reason you quit, or will it be the fire that fuels your greatest comeback?

The choice is yours...

Stay focused and get busy on your come back,

-Troy Rienstra