Beyond Survival: The Power of Extraordinary Measures

Tammy Gibson
Apr 26
3 min read

There was a time when just surviving felt like the greatest miracle of all.

I had lived through what many wouldn’t—months in the hospital, multiple organ failures, limb loss, and starting over from scratch. And yes, I thanked God every day just to wake up and breathe again. But eventually, a deeper realization stirred in my heart:

Now that I’m alive… how do I truly live?

Because here’s the truth:

Survival is the starting point—not the end game.

What Are Extraordinary Measures?

Most people hear the phrase and think of emergency procedures—life-saving actions taken in crisis. But in the Tough Like Tammy mindset, “extraordinary measures” mean something different:

It’s the bold decision to not just survive—but to rebuild, redefine, and rise.

It’s choosing joy when bitterness would be easier.

It’s showing up when you’d rather shut down.

It’s leading with faith, beauty, and purpose—even when life left its marks.

The Moment I Knew Survival Wasn’t the Goal

There came a moment when I realized I wasn’t in crisis anymore.

I had survived the worst. I had made it through. And while I was deeply grateful just to be alive, I also knew something else—I wasn’t meant to stay in that place of just getting by.

It was time to stop just surviving… and start truly living.

Not existing in fear.

Not measuring my life by what I had lost.

Not waiting for everything to be perfect again.

But choosing to live fully—right here, right now.

To create joy on purpose.

To build a life I’m blessed to get to love.

To move forward, not just maintain.

It wasn’t about returning to who I was.

It was about rising into someone stronger, wiser, and more alive.

My Extraordinary Measures

When I look back, the extraordinary measures I took didn’t always feel grand. Most of the time, they looked like small, determined choices—moments of faith and fire when nobody was watching.

Here’s what some of my extraordinary measures looked like:

Walking into the gym with a prosthetic leg, shaky hands, and a determined heart.
Saying yes to opportunities even when I wasn’t sure I was “ready.”
Telling my story not because it was easy—but because someone else needed it.
Choosing joy over resentment, even when the weight of it all felt overwhelming.
Laughing again. Dreaming again. Dancing again.

These weren’t the kinds of choices that made headlines.

But they’re the choices that changed everything.

Why We Settle for Survival

Sometimes we’re so thankful to still be standing that we feel guilty asking for more.

We confuse staying safe with being faithful.

We mistake maintenance for purpose.

We think surviving is the final proof of strength.

But staying stuck isn’t honoring your story—it’s avoiding the fullness of it.

Taking extraordinary measures means reclaiming what adversity tried to steal: your energy, your voice, your joy, your boldness.

The Tough Like Tammy Manifesto Lives Here

In this space, we believe:

You’re not weak for needing time to heal.
You’re not selfish for wanting more.
You’re not “too much” for rising boldly, again and again.

You don’t have to wait until you’re “all better” to live fully.

You just have to decide that surviving won’t be your final chapter.

5 Extraordinary Measures You Can Take Today

Want to live a little bolder starting now? Here’s how you can begin:

Say yes to one thing that feels a little scary—but a lot exciting.
Wear something that makes you feel radiant—even if no one else sees it.
Speak one truth you’ve been too afraid to say out loud.
Do one thing just because it brings you joy—not because it’s “productive.”
Write down what a life you’re blessed to get to love looks like—and take one small step toward it today.