The Hyena Within Us

A lion may roar the loudest. A leopard may strike with elegance. But when the dust settles, it is often the hyena that endures. For a long time, I looked at this animal as just scavenger-like—ugly laughter, second-hand meals, and scraps. But lately, I’ve started seeing the hyena differently.

Why? Because it embodies resilience in a way many of us millennials can relate to. Life isn’t always about being the strongest or the most admired. Sometimes, it’s about refusing to give up when the odds are stacked against you. The hyena doesn’t shy away from what others dismiss as beneath them. It survives—and thrives—by making the most of what’s available.

That image of a hyena gripping a liver in its mouth struck me. That organ may have belonged to a stronger beast, one that fell along the way. But for the hyena, that moment of “loss” for another becomes the source of its strength to keep going.

Isn’t that what mental resilience looks like? Picking up what life leaves behind, even if it feels messy or “less than,” and turning it into fuel. We don’t always get perfect opportunities, flawless jobs, or smooth relationships. Sometimes, what we get are scraps—an unexpected layoff, a broken heart, a failed project. But those scraps can be reshaped into strength if we have the courage to adapt.

For me, this shifted my perspective on endurance and mental health. It reminded me that resilience isn’t glamorous—it’s gritty. It doesn’t always look like winning first place; sometimes, it’s just about staying in the race long enough to see tomorrow. In a world that often measures us by highlight reels, resilience teaches us to value persistence over perfection.

So the next time you feel like life is serving you leftovers, remember the hyena. Remember that you can still wrest strength from broken pieces.

Resilience doesn’t roar, but it whispers, “keep going.” And sometimes, that’s all you need.