The Bridge Between Who You Were and Who You’re Becoming

Two shores.
That’s what it feels like — the person you used to be on one side, and the person you want to become on the other. The problem? Most of us get stuck staring at the water between them, unsure how to cross.

The Past Isn’t the Enemy

Too often, people try to bury their past selves — to disown the mistakes, ignore the scars, or erase the old labels. But your past isn’t an enemy. It’s the soil you rise from.

This blog is for the ones who feel suspended between two versions of themselves. For the ones who know they’ve outgrown who they were but haven’t fully stepped into who they’re becoming. For those who sense they’re standing on the edge of change, waiting for a bridge to appear.

Here’s the truth: the bridge isn’t built for you. You build it — step by step, pillar by pillar.

When I was homeless at 17, my identity was survival. Every day was about getting through. Years later, even after I had a career and family, I still carried that “lost kid” identity. The shore of my past was strong in my mind.

But who I wanted to be — a mentor, a builder, a creator — lived on the other side. The Tiger in me 🐅 demanded clarity: face the past, honor its lessons. The Phoenix 🔥🕊️ reminded me that transformation doesn’t happen by denying your past, but by rising through it. The bridge between my past and future wasn’t in waiting for the perfect moment. It was in choosing to start walking.

Michael lived this too. After his injury, he had to face the shore of who he was before — the unbreakable athlete. On the other shore was the resilient, adaptive competitor he was becoming. The bridge was built in daily training sessions that respected his new reality, while still fueling his future goals.

The Shift: Awareness Creates the Bridge

Bridging the gap isn’t about rejecting your past or daydreaming about your future. It’s about weaving them together with awareness.

This is where The Five Pillars of Tiger Resilience guide the way:

Purpose 🎯 – Awareness of why your past matters and what your future calls you toward.

Planning 🗺️ – Designing the steps that connect today with tomorrow.

Practice 🔄 – Daily habits that serve as planks across the bridge.

Perseverance 🏔️ – Commitment when the middle feels shaky, when both shores feel far.

Providence 🌅 – Trust that every step builds momentum — even when you can’t see the whole path.

The bridge isn’t a theory. It’s built plank by plank, day by day.

Phoenix Steps: How to Build Your Bridge

🔥 Step 1: Name your two shores. Write down “Who I was” and “Who I’m becoming.”
🔥 Step 2: Honor the past. Identify one lesson or strength from your past self worth carrying forward.
🔥 Step 3: Clarify the future. Choose three words that describe your future self.
🔥 Step 4: Lay the first plank. Commit to one daily habit that aligns with your future self.
🔥 Step 5: Keep walking. When doubt comes, remind yourself: the bridge is built in motion, not in waiting.

Caution

🚫 The trap: Getting stuck in regret or fantasy.
Some stare too long at the past, reliving mistakes. Others live in the fantasy of the future without taking steps. The Tiger grounds you in clarity: see what is real. The Phoenix calls you upward: rise into what is possible. The bridge is built by balancing both.

The Four Domains of Crossing the Bridge

Body 💪 – Honor where your body has been while training it for what it can become.

Mind 🧠 – Rewrite mental scripts that tie you to the past.

Heart ❤️ – Let old emotional wounds heal into new connections.

Spirit 🔥 – Align your purpose so your bridge leads somewhere meaningful.

Journal Prompts for Reflection

• What shore of the past am I still standing on?
• What three words describe the shore of my future self?
• Which lesson from my past can serve as a plank for my future?
• Which of the Five Pillars of Tiger Resilience can help me take the next step?
• How can I practice one daily action that builds my bridge forward?

RISE

Your past and future are not enemies — they’re two shores waiting for you to build the bridge between them. The Tiger gives you clarity to see both honestly. The Phoenix gives you courage to rise into the new.

The bridge is built in awareness, step by step, plank by plank. And the moment you start walking, you’re already becoming.

📍Please leave a comment or reply on who you are becoming.

Rise Strong and Live Boldly in the Bond of the Phoenix.

Bernie & Michael Tiger         

Tiger Resilience 🐅    

🌟 For Parents and Educators Who Believe in Raising Brave, Kind Kids 🌟

We’ve poured our hearts into Tiger Resilience for years—helping adults heal, grow, and find purpose through life’s most challenging moments. Now, we’re bringing that same mission to the next generation.

Introducing the Tiger Resilience Kids Book Series! 📚🧡
We’re thrilled to share our first two storybooks:
Theo and the Courageous Climb and Phoebe and the Sky of Second Chances.

These gentle, magical adventures are designed to help kids build emotional resilience, confidence, and the courage to keep going—even when things get tough. Each story draws from the same Five Pillars and Four Domains that guide our adult programs, but reimagined for young hearts and minds. They’re filled with vibrant illustrations, memorable characters, and messages that matter.

✨ Ready to bring resilience and kindness to your family, classroom, or community?
Grab your copies of the Tiger Resilience Kids books here: AMAZON 

Your support means the world to us. Every book purchased helps us grow this movement—empowering families to connect, learn, and thrive together through the power of story.

Thank you for believing in the next generation of tigers and phoenixes. Together, let’s help our kids rise strong.

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