Life is designed to knock you down. It will knock you down time

In the great journey of life, there is a truth that transcends time, one that has been whispered in the wind and etched into the hearts of warriors, philosophers, and poets alike: life is a force that will, inevitably, knock you down. The trials we face, the challenges we must endure, are as ancient as humanity itself. From the dawn of time, men and women have stood tall, only to be brought low by circumstances beyond their control. Yet, the true measure of a person’s strength lies not in their ability to avoid falling, but in their resolve to rise again each time they are struck down. Lilly Singh, in her wisdom, reminds us of this eternal truth: it is not the number of times we fall, but the number of times we rise, that defines us.

Consider the mighty Hercules, the greatest of Greek heroes. His life was not a tale of effortless victories, but one of constant struggle against overwhelming odds. Time and time again, he faced trials that seemed impossible—whether it was slaying the Nemean Lion or capturing the Golden Hind. But his strength did not lie in the victories he achieved, nor in the ease with which he completed his labors. His true strength was in his resilience, in his ability to rise after every fall. Hercules was not defined by the number of enemies he conquered, but by the fact that he never gave up, no matter how many times he was brought to his knees.

The philosopher Marcus Aurelius also spoke of life’s tendency to knock us down. He reminded us that adversity is an essential part of life, and that it is through hardship that we learn to cultivate virtue. His Meditations echo the same wisdom that Lilly Singh imparts: that it is not the hardships themselves that define us, but how we respond to them. Aurelius teaches us to embrace the challenges that life throws our way, for they are not obstacles, but opportunities for growth. To fall is to be human, but to rise is to embody the very spirit of the gods.

Let us look to the story of Thomas Edison, whose invention of the lightbulb changed the course of history. He faced countless failures in his quest to bring light to the world. It is said that he failed over a thousand times before finding the right filament, yet he never saw these failures as defeats. Instead, he viewed each failure as a step toward success, a lesson learned in the crucible of struggle. Edison’s story is a testament to the power of resilience, to the strength found in persistence, and to the unwavering belief that the next attempt, no matter how many times one has fallen, may bring success.

The world, as Lilly Singh rightly reminds us, is designed to knock us down. Life is filled with moments of defeat, of heartache, and of loss. It is in those moments that our true character is forged. To be human is to face the inevitable falls, but it is the spirit with which we rise that separates the conquerors from the defeated. Just as a sword is forged in the fire, so too are we forged in the trials of life. Every time we fall and rise, we become stronger, more resilient, and more capable of withstanding the next blow.

Therefore, the lesson of this ancient wisdom is clear: never give up. When life knocks you down, rise with all the strength of your being. Do not fear the fall, for it is an essential part of the process. Instead, fear the moment when you choose not to rise, when you allow defeat to claim your spirit. Resilience is the mark of the strong; it is the ability to rise, no matter how many times you fall. Each rise, each step forward, is a victory in itself. Embrace the journey, with all its falls and all its challenges, for it is through this process that you will discover your true strength.

Let us take this to heart, and let every fall be a reminder that we are alive, that we are capable of rising, and that with each rise, we grow ever more powerful. Resilience is not merely a response to hardship; it is a choice, a declaration that we will not be broken, that we will rise again and again, until we reach the heights of our potential. Let us live our lives not in fear of falling, but in the unwavering belief that with every fall, we will rise stronger, and that it is in the rising that we truly find our greatness.