RESILIENCE, DIVINE ORDER & Speaking Your Truth with actress, director and Beyond the Gates star TAMARA TUNIE

Beloved for decades as Jessica Griffin on As the World Turns, actress Tamara Tunie recently made her grand return to daytime TV in Beyond the Gates-the first network soap opera to premiere in more than 25 years.

- DEANNA BARNERT

The Tony Award winner, who turns 66 this month, is also preparing to direct a series of powerful musicals honoring Black trailblazers like Dorothy Dandridge. But not so long ago, Tamara admits she didn't feel very powerful.

"I went through a difficult divorce," the Law & Order: SVU alumna confides to FIRST. "I was blindsided and devastated. I held the tension in my back, and I blew out discs in my spine. I couldn't walk." While acupuncture and physical therapy helped her get back on her feet, it was the internal work that prepared Tamara to handle a more recent professional blow. "I had a massive disappointment that hurt my spirit, but this time, I didn't take it lying down," she says. "I've learned how to stand strong in my opinion, navigate the emotion of it and still articulate my point. It still didn't turn out the way I thought it should, but I had my say, I spoke my truth-and it didn't result in back problems!" Here, Tamara shares how resilience and self-care can help us overcome any challenge.

MY INSPIRATION

A thick skin

"I find strength in knowing myself and my family. Having experienced numerous disappointments in my career has also made me resilientbeing an actor gives you a thick skin!" says Tamara. "But I attribute a lot of my strength to my mother. She's a feisty 90-year-old, living independently and still traveling. She's a rock. It's really all about putting one foot in front of the other."

MY RADIANCE RX

Before-bed ritual