What the past few weeks taught me about the kind of strength that actually matters - Majida Tabch - Strategic Talent Operations Lead at TBWA\RAAD

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It all started on Saturday, February 28, 2026.

When the news broke, I was in denial. I carried on as normal until that evening, when I heard it for the first time. An interception. A sound I hadn’t heard in eighteen years of living in Dubai.

In that moment, everything shifted.

My family and I went through every emotion: fear, worry, uncertainty. But I had to stand strong. For my family, and for my people. Because in moments like these, there is no pause. You feel it all, but you still have to show up.

Now that it’s behind us, I want to share what moments like these truly require from us.

Most people around me shifted into survival mode and that’s natural. It’s how we are wired. But what matters is not staying there.

Survival mode, if prolonged, drains your mindset, your wellbeing, and your ability to move forward. So feel it. Move through the fear and the uncertainty. But don't unpack and live in them. Process it, then shift. Find your footing, protect your safety, and keep moving.

Because this is not the time to wait.

While others are reacting or holding back, the most valuable thing you can do is prepare. Think ahead. This applies to everyone: leaders, business owners, individuals. The size of your role doesn't matter. The size of your thinking does. Use this time with intention. Double down on your strengths. Identify what this moment is revealing. Get ready, so when things move again, you move with clarity and purpose.

Because this will pass. And when it does, the ones who rise strongest will be those who never stopped preparing.

But strength isn't only in planning. It's in how you show up.

In those first days, what kept us going wasn't the news. It was each other. The check-ins, the quiet presence, knowing someone was there. Support your people. Be present. Bring them together and remind them that this is not the end of the story.

If there's one thing we know, it's this: this country has faced challenges before, and it has always come back stronger. That resilience is not just something we witness. It's something we choose to carry forward.

Act with intention. Plan with confidence. And find opportunity in uncertainty.

So if you're still processing, take the time you need. Feel it.

And when you're ready, ask yourself: what's next?

What you do in moments like these matters, not just for what comes next, but for who you become in the process.

I'll leave you with two words a close friend kept saying to me throughout all of this. Two words in Arabic that somehow carry everything:

الامور طيبة

Everything is fine.