RESILIENCE

Resilience is knowing how to cope in spite of setbacks, barriers, or limited resources.  Resilience is a measure of how much you want something and how much you are willing and able, to overcome obstacles to get it.  It has to do with your emotional strength. 

Look to the past. Get hope from your past resilience. You have likely endured other unforeseen life disrupters, and you made it through, and you are stronger because of it. Know that you will get through this present situation the whole world is experiencing right now. Remind yourself of your resilience on a regular basis.

 

 

7 skills to build resilience:

Remain calm (Know yourself)  Be consciously aware of living in the moment.  Research has demonstrated that our confidence plays an important role in coping with stress and recovering from difficult events.  Becoming more aware of yourself, including your ability to respond to and deal with a perceived stressful event, is a great way to build resilience for the future.

Use your body as feedback. (Your body and mind are one) Research has shown that while some people come by resilience naturally, it can also be learned.  What hasn’t been talked about much is the mind and body is one.  It is difficult to have resilience in the mind if the body is in pain, discomfort due to illness or an unhealthy lifestyle.  Working with the body to change lifestyle habits through healthy food, exercise, and sleep produces significant outcomes on resilience.

Accept what is! (embrace change with optimism)   Flexibility is an essential part of resilience.  Becoming more adaptable, you’ll be better equipped to respond when faced with a life crisis.  Resilient people often utilize these events as an opportunity to branch out in new directions.  While some people may be crushed by abrupt changes, highly resilient individuals are able to adapt and thieve.  Staying optimistic during dark periods can be difficult, but maintaining a hopeful outlook is an important part of resiliency.  Positive thinking does not mean ignoring the problem in order to focus on positive outcomes.  It is the understanding that setbacks are a part of life and that you have the skills and abilities to combat challenges and obstacles you face.  What you are dealing with may be difficult, but important to remain calm and know that it is all temporary

Nourish yourself.  (Nourish your body/balance your mind)Your mind will send messages to your body to use its resources to protect yourself.  It is important that your reserves are well maintained.  If the body and mind do not perceive threats as often, the individual will have the strength and stamina to withstand the tumultuous environment.

 Make time for life meaning activities that you enjoy.  By nourishing your own needs, you can boost           your overall health and resilience and be fully ready to face life’s challenges.  You will be also                   more able to serve others

Build positive social relationships. (social network not social media)  It is important to distinguish between building a social relationship and social media accounts.  A human being operates within the relationship she/he has with themselves which in turn extends out to other life forms.  Expressing your feelings with another human being is far superior then posting on your favorite social media channel.  In fact, social media will support the breakdown of human interaction and in turn, will decrease the mind’s resilience factor.  Take time to cultivate a relationship with life and not a machine. It will be well worth your time.

Find your purpose in life. (Set your intention) Setting an intention will keep you in balance and on track when an obstacle or setback occurs.  Keeping your purpose and intention at the forefront gives you immunity to stress.  We can do this by learning to train our minds through the practices of meditation.  Over time, your awareness of who you are and why you are her will become clearer and clearer. “ I am statements” or even repeating words, such as eg  “peace” throughout the day,  and look for signs of it all around you.  You will see signs of it everywhere.

Practice your skills (Life is a practice, so enjoy the process) Resilience takes time, so don’t get discouraged if you still struggle to cope with problematic events.  Everyone can learn to be resilient and it doesn’t involve any specific set of behaviors or actions.  Resilience can vary dramatically from one person to the next.  Focus on your strengths, not your weaknesses and you will see over time, they will override any weaknesses. By practicing these suggested skills, you will build on strengthening your existing strengths.

Resilience Quotes

“Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.”  – Helen Keller –

 

A good half of the art of living is resilience.  – Alain de botton –

 

“I can be changed by what happens to me.  But I refuse to be reduced by it”  – Maya Angelou –

 

“Resilience is knowing that you are the only one that has the power and the responsibility to pick yourself up.”  – Mary Holloway –

 

“Resilience is all about being able to overcome the unexpected. Sustainability is about survival.  The goal of resilience is to thrive.”  – Jamais Cascio –

 

Joy, collected over time, fuels resilience.  – Brene Brown –

 

Resilience is based on compassion for ourselves as well as compassion for others.  – Shannon Salesbury –

 

“I am not what happened to me, I am what I choose to become.”  -Carl Gustav Jung –