During these challenging times with the corona virus, business closures and job losses, there has never been a better time than now to practice resilience.
There have come many times in my life where I needed to practice resilience on a personal and professional level. No matter what life gave me, I eventually bounced back feeling wiser and stronger. At the time, I did not know how I will do it, it’s only when I look back, do I see how far I have come. There is still more work to be done though.
Psychologists define resilience as the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats or significant sources of stress
Resilience doesn’t just involve bouncing back from difficult experiences, it also involves profound personal growth plus mental and emotional healing.
Those who are more resilient tend to be more optimistic, have a positive mindset and attitude, proactive and are more inclined to work hard to avoid anything from happening. These traits are needed for survival, when one needs to deal with adversity and finding a way to move forward and progress in life. Also, those who are resilient are able to believe in themselves and their ability to effectively manage life’s challenges.
I believe one’s personality is shaped by a combination of nature (genetic) and nurture (environmental) influences which play a big role in how we deal with life and our resilience. Our life experiences shape us especially during childhood, our environment and upbringing affect who we are as adults. and how resilient we become. The good news is we can work on ourselves to improve our resilience no matter what life throws at us.
We all have different ways to manage adversity and stress, and therefore different strategies that could lead to a sense of resilience. Our spiritual beliefs and cultural backgrounds also have a key role in developing our sense of resilience.
Here are some tips that can help in becoming more resilient during difficult times:
- Let go of the things you can’t control. Instead, focus on how you respond, try to create space and give time to heal
- Be comfortable taking risks, try to take one small risk every day like trying something new for the first time or talking to new people or cooking a new recipe or buying something you always wanted or reaching out for your dream job and not fearing failure
- Prioritize your wellness, nourish your body with healthy food, find healthy ways to destress mentally and physically like meditation or workout to bring your body back to balance
- Work with nature, go for a walk or go to the beach, create a feeling of oneness
- Become aware of sensations in your body and and embrace healthy thoughts
- Build connections and foster meaningful relationships and be proactive
- And finally, find your purpose, believe in your abilities and nurture yourself with knowledge and learning
Resilience is like any muscle, requires intentional practice so the more we practice it the stronger it gets. So with focus, consistency and determination it can be enjoyed and achieved.
Resilience is not a trampoline, where you’re down one moment and up the next. It’s more like climbing a mountain without a trail map
If you keep jumping on that trampoline you will eventually fall off. So keep climbing that mountain and it’s only when you look down, will you see how far you’ve come.
I have come a long way going up that mountain but I’m not at the top yet. I still need more and more practice to get that muscle stronger and stronger!
Resiliency is a way of life, a healthy choice, a healthy lifestyle and as well as a healing mechanism.
So go after it, climb up that mountain and enjoy the healing power of resilience!
Once we are at the top, I am sure the view will be amazing!
References for further reading:
https://www.everydayhealth.com/wellness/resilience/
https://www.apa.org/topics/resilience
https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/the-empowerment-diary/201507/how-become-more-resilient
https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/risk-taking-examples-fun-36653010
hanaheals.com 