The Miracles That Power Resilience
- Brainz Magazine
- 3 days ago
- 12 min read
Updated: 14 hours ago
Fabio da Silva Fernandes knows what it's like to stumble. In 2021, he left his long career in the fintech industry to start his own wellness practice focused on mindfulness and Reiki, and now he explores the complex topic of resilience on his inspiring podcast called The Stumbling Spirit.
Growing up Roman Catholic, the belief in the possibility of miracles was ingrained in me since I was a child, with stories of Jesus healing the sick and disabled, and the many marvels attributed to apparitions of Our Lady from around the world. At home, school and in church, I was taught to ask for the intercession of angels and saints to deliver personal miracles through prayer (whether answered or unanswered). Eventually, I distanced myself from adhering to any one organized religion in favor of an all-encompassing spirituality rooted in compassion. Outside of religious and spiritual contexts, humans in general are fascinated by inexplicably lucky events that defy logic and stir wonder. One can argue that it is our belief in miracles that powers our resilience, with the hope that somehow these extraordinary blessings might be graced upon us and help us overcome our own adversities and struggles. In this article, I will show how miracles are more common than we might think and explain why they are one of the key ingredients of resilience itself.
What is a miracle?
Miracles are often associated with a sudden reversal of fortune benefitting those who would otherwise die or endure prolonged suffering due to illness, poverty, violence etc. Besides these extreme cases, the truth is we experience miracles everyday, both big and small, that range from living another day to random acts of kindness, the rise of the morning sun to the diversity of nature, the birth of a child to the gift of modern medicine, and so on.
To summarize the Cambridge Dictionary’s definition, a miracle relates to one or more of the following:
an unusual event that appears to defy natural causes and is ascribed to a supernatural source.
an exceptional achievement, often against all odds.
just plain luck, typically unexpected.
There is very little divergence between online definitions, but Dictionary.com adds that a miracle also includes marvels and wonders.
The science of meditation & prayer
I still pray, and for the past decade, mindfulness has been a regular part of my spiritual practice and now my business.
According to the National Library of Medicine, “Different types of meditation have been shown to result in psychological and biological changes that are actually or potentially associated with improved health.”
Prayer is a kind of meditation, which has been shown to support the parasympathetic nervous system, or the rest-and-digest state, and:
reduce stress and cortisol levels.
manage anxiety and depression.
improve general well-being and mood.
better cardiovascular health, i.e., blood pressure and heart rate.
boost the immune system to combat colds and illnesses.
produce positive hormones like serotonin and dopamine.
increase pain tolerance.
The article goes on to say that “spiritual meditation has been found to be superior to secular meditation and relaxation in terms of decrease in anxiety and improvement in positive mood, spiritual health, spiritual experiences, and tolerance to pain.”
In fact, research shows that consistent mindfulness practice rewires the brain to improve attention and focus for sustained periods of time, as well as emotional regulation, as per Psychology Today, and the Mindfulness Institute says that mindfulness enhances awareness in such a way that it “offers opportunities to step out of autopilot and conditioned reactions to consciously choose more adaptive, healthy responses.”
According to mindful.org, studies show that in as little as 8 weeks, people can start to experience the benefits of regular mindfulness practice. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is an example of one such program, developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn, that introduces participants to a foundation of mindfulness exercises through a secular lens.
Related article: What We've Gotten Wrong About Resilience
What’s this about energy?
Originating in Japan, Reiki is a form of energy medicine meant to balance the chakra system within the body to promote well-being. As a Reiki Master, I find it interesting how this restorative modality produces similar results in my clients as mindfulness does.
Research published in the National Library of Medicine supports my observations and states that “Reiki is better than placebo in activating the parasympathetic nervous system, as measured by reduced heart rate, reduced blood pressure, and increased heart rate variability. For patients with chronic health conditions, Reiki has been found to be more effective than a placebo for reducing pain, anxiety, and depression, and for improving self-esteem and quality of life. According to the neurovisceral integration model and the polyvagal theory, these effects are due to higher parasympathetic nervous system activity, mediated via the vagus nerve. This understanding suggests that Reiki has the potential to provide valuable support for a broad range of chronic health conditions. However, there is no justification to regard Reiki as a cure for any health condition. Instead, Reiki should be regarded as a complementary therapy that can be implemented alongside all other medical and therapeutic techniques.”
As a Reiki Master, I have noticed the following benefits in my clients:
Enhanced relaxation.
Reduction of stress and anxiety.
Pain management.
Greater well-being.
Deeper connection with the body.
Awareness of the present moment.
Release of physical and emotional tension.
Increased peace of mind.
Improved attention and focus.
More balance and equanimity.
Mind over matter?
Years ago, I read the book The Biology of Belief by Bruce H. Lipton, which claims that our beliefs, thoughts, and level of consciousness have more of an impact on our health and body than our DNA. In fact, Lipton argues that we can promote well-being through epigenetics, which is the study of how to manipulate and reprogram the membranes of our cells to facilitate positive changes in our body. Essentially, Lipton says that we have the ability to heal and cure ourselves through our beliefs and mind-body connection.
Dr. Joe Dispenza has a very similar philosophy, with epigenetics being one of the cores of his personal development program, designed to help people transform their lives to a healthier state of being. His unconventional approach incorporates neuroscience and concepts of quantum physics to help participants of his workshops rewire their brains and establish a new relationship with their bodies to manifest a new reality. In other words, according to Dr. Dispenza, our thoughts, beliefs, and emotions have the power to change our lives and heal our bodies. Some of the techniques that he uses in his program to help facilitate these changes include meditation, breath work, visualization, introducing new thought and emotional patterns, and shifting from a victim mindset to a creator mindset.
According to research published by the National Library of Medicine, there is a “mounting body of evidence that demonstrates a correlation between the physical and mental effects of Integrative Medicine (IM) and modulation of gene expression and epigenetic state.” The article goes on to say that “the concept of a fluid or plastic epigenome has evolved because of observations that environmental factors influence the individual and directly impact health status,” and it further states that “thought and mental states are capable of affecting gene expression in various ways,” including through “meditation, exposure to cold temperatures, and breathing techniques.”
Related article: Resilience vs. Survival - How Do They Differ?
Conventional miracles
Sometimes we forget that modern medicine is a miracle in itself. It’s not long ago that we didn’t have antibiotics to treat bacterial infections like strep throat, insulin to manage diabetes, and vaccinations to combat diseases like polio and smallpox. Just think about the medical advancements in surgical care and cancer treatment over the past hundred years.
In fact, conventional medicine is highly effective in treating infectious diseases, illnesses and injuries through prescription medications, vaccines and surgery. The miracle of modern medicine is rooted in thorough research and clinical trials, which ensure the safety and efficacy of treatments and positive patient outcomes.
Despite the risk of side effects and cost, the pros often outweigh the cons in terms of overall benefits in these scenarios. Perhaps the biggest setback that has had a detrimental impact on society is drug dependence. Research published by the National Institute on Drug Abuse shows that in 2021, roughly 14 million Americans, 12 years of age or older, misused prescription drugs in the preceding 12 months. More than half of this number was attributed to opioid use, with 5 million reported cases of addiction. This data does not factor in the misuse and abuse of over-the-counter medication, which is on the rise, especially among young people, as per the National Library of Medicine and The Pharmaceutical Journal.
With the advent of modern medicine, studies show that death rates have dropped in the last 50 years, and there is an overall increase in life expectancy. Additionally, several infectious diseases have been eradicated or controlled as a result of vaccines and antibiotics.
Curve balls
In life, unfortunate events happen that can sometimes be fatal, from plane crashes to car accidents, lightning strikes to natural disasters. Despite the risk of death in these life-threatening circumstances, research shows that people survive more often than not. Some might call these escapes from certain death miraculous.
Below are statistics from the National Safety Council in the United States, which provide lifetime odds of death for various causes (2023 data):
Cause of death (accident type) | Lifetime odds of death |
Opioid overdose (accidental) | 1 in 57 |
Motor-vehicle crash | 1 in 95 |
Motorcyclist | 1 in 706 |
Bicyclist | 1 in 3,102 |
Pedestrian Incident | 1 in 471 |
Dog attack | 1 in 44,499 |
Fall | 1 in 91 |
Drowning | 1 in 1,073 |
Choking on food | 1 in 2,461 |
Fire or smoke inhalation | 1 in 1,266 |
Electrocution etc. | 1 in 14,383 |
Cataclysm storm | 1 in 39,192 |
For car accidents, the survival rate is highly dependent on speed, seat belt usage, and vehicle type. In fact, speed is such a crucial factor that a pedestrian hit at 20 mph has roughly a 90% chance of surviving, whereas survival rates drop sharply for incidents with greater speeds, according to the National Library of Medicine and the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.
Despite popular belief, most people survive aviation accidents. Data from the National Transportation Safety Board in the US shows that over 95% of passengers survived such accidents overall, and approximately 59% survived serious crashes that involved fire, serious injury, and severe airplane damage.
The truth is that most accidents are not fatal. This is partly due to the availability and usage of safety equipment (i.e., seatbelts) as well as access to and the delivery of prompt medical attention (i.e., EMS and hospital care).
According to the World Health Organization, in the past year, “of the 4.4 million injury-related deaths, unintentional injuries take the lives of 3.16 million people every year. Roughly 1 in 3 of these deaths result from road traffic crashes. Drowning is the sixth leading cause of death for children aged 5-14 years. Falls account for over 684,000 deaths each year and are a growing and under-recognized public health issue.”
Spontaneous recovery
According to Wikipedia, “spontaneous remission, also called spontaneous healing or spontaneous regression, is an unexpected improvement or cure from a disease that usually progresses. These terms are commonly used for unexpected transient or final improvements in cancer.”
In the case of cancer, the National Library of Medicine explains that “spontaneous regression (SR) of cancer is defined as a complete or partial, temporary or permanent disappearance of all or at least some relevant parameters of malignant disease with inadequate or no treatment. SR of cancer is an extremely rare phenomenon. We report a case of a 67-year-old man who experienced SR of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which progressed after fifth-line chemotherapy and regressed after chemotherapy ceased. Surprisingly, the primary tumor size continued to decrease for more than 13 months and his general condition markedly improved after discontinuation of the chemotherapy. To our knowledge, this is the first report of SR in a patient with NSCLC that was not responsive to a fifth round of chemotherapy.”
In fact, SR is so rare that the occurrence is about 1 in 60,000 to 100,000 patients with cancer, as per the article.
That being said, there are other conditions and illnesses where the odds of spontaneous remission or recovery are quite high, such as:
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Studies show that an average of 44% of individuals with PTSD at baseline recovered after 40 months.
Autoimmune Pancreatitis (AIP): A remission rate of 80% has been reported in untreated Type 1 AIP patients.
Developmental Stuttering: Between 75% and 80% of children will recover between 12 and 24 months.
Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL): The spontaneous recovery rate is almost 60%.
Post-viral fatigue (related to COVID-19): At the end of one study, 51.2% of patients with post-viral fatigue were symptom-free, with 76.8% having improved over time.
Miraculous stories of resilience
Below are examples of real-life miracles and inspirational stories from my podcast.
1. Soul awakening
A serious car accident left Lori Bean with life-altering injuries. Years of chronic pain and misdiagnoses left her frustrated and hopeless, until she asked herself, “What is the soul?” This took her on a spiritual quest for her truth that introduced her to holistic health and inspired the creation of a wellness centre for women. Lori opens up about her soul awakening and her new purpose in life.
2. Balance in pictures
After a sudden attack of vertigo in 2019, Marilyn Calleja's world changed forever. However, Marilyn’s permanent vestibular dysfunction inspired a new passion for painting natural landscapes. Marilyn talks about her art and her continual search for balance when it has been compromised.
3. Back beyond the mask
In 2010, occupational therapist Jaisa Sulit had a life-changing motorcycle accident. The impact of her crash damaged her spine and left her temporarily paralysed from the waist down. This traumatic event set her on a path of healing more than just her physical injuries, but also her spirit. Jaisa opens up about her journey of recovery, the importance of relationships, and her compelling memoir.
4. Endurance impact
Transportation planner Anthony Smith is an avid cyclist and endurance athlete. Eight years ago, the course of his life took a near-fatal turn when he crashed his bike into a pick-up truck. Miraculously, he survived. The impact dislocated his neck and fractured his spine, which needed two surgeries to fuse back together. Anthony talks about the rights of cyclists, his long road to recovery, and how he has grown personally and spiritually since his accident.
5. Wild cancer coaster
Nancy Horvath has raised millions of dollars for some of the most prominent healthcare organizations in Canada to help improve the lives and health outcomes of patients. In 2020, Nancy became a patient herself, initially diagnosed with stage-three breast cancer followed by pancreatic cancer. Now disease-free, Nancy shares her powerful story and healing journey.
6. Food medicine
Twenty-seven years ago, Lucy De Matos was diagnosed with an incurable auto-immune disorder called vasculitis. Since then, she has managed her symptoms through diet. Now Lucy guides others on their food choices to better manage their symptoms. Lucy speaks candidly about her life with this disease, and explains the connection between food and health.
7. Weathering milestones
In 2001, Heather Harris experienced complications during childbirth after thirty-one hours of labour. Oxygen deprivation caused a permanent brain injury in her first-born son that would forever impact his motor control. He was later diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. Heather opens up about her journey as a parent to support her disabled and exceptionally gifted son.
8. Generational genre
Dr. Paulo Steinberg is a professor of piano and a virtuoso at his craft who has performed as a soloist in some of the finest venues in the world. Paulo discusses his rhythmic Brazilian album, opens up about his painful childhood, and talks about the angel who supported him throughout his distinguished career.
Inspiration to move forward
On a regular basis, I exchange texts with a dear friend in which we share gratitude lists with one another. I have found this gratitude practice of noticing and celebrating the many gifts in life to be really beneficial. Sometimes when life gets overwhelming, it is through the recognition of these small and big miracles that keeps me motivated to move forward with gusto and be resilient.
Learning about the miraculous stories of others is also inspiring because it offers a glimmer of hope that, however unlikely, there’s a shred of possibility that good things can happen even when odds are slim.
As discussed in this article, we also have the power of creating our own miracles by prioritizing self-care through conventional and alternative means, including the introduction of holistic practices, like mindfulness and Reiki, which have been shown to improve general well-being.
That being said, do your own research and consult your doctor before embarking on any new wellness protocol especially if you are undergoing treatment for an existing condition.
To learn more, book me for a talk and consultation today. To listen to The Stumbling Spirit Podcast, click here, or you can find my show on your favourite podcast streaming platform.
Read more from Fabio da Silva Fernandes
Fabio da Silva Fernandes, Resilience, Mindfulness, and Reiki Enthusiast
For most of his professional career, Fabio da Silva Fernandes worked in the tech industry as a customer support leader. About a decade ago, Fabio began his mindfulness journey, incorporating the practice of presence into his life on a regular basis. In his pursuit of personal wellness, Fabio attained several mindfulness certifications and, in 2018, delved into the world of energy work and started his Reiki training. Fabio is now a certified Reiki Master and Reiki Master Teacher. In 2021, Fabio left his career in fintech to launch his own wellness business called Resting Bell Wellness Inc., which is now branded under the name of his resilience podcast, The Stumbling Spirit.
