You might have heard a lot of talk around resilience lately. What is resilience and how can you cultivate resilience in your own life? That’s what we will be focusing on this month.
Resilience is the quality that allows some people to be knocked down by life but rise up again in the face of obstacles, rough times and failure. Whether it’s the death of a loved one, the loss of a job, illness or other setbacks, resilient people find a way to look at the bigger picture, transcending pain and grief by treating their bad times as a transient state of affairs. Although some people seem to have an inborn ability to impressively deal with their problems, resilience is a quality that can be fostered and fortified by strengthening your inner self and your belief in yourself.
Here are some ways to cultivate resilience:
- Keep things in perspective. Obstacles and failures are bound to arise but try to consider stressful situations in a broader context and keep a long-term perspective. You may have, for instance, lost your job. As unfortunate as that is, if you are in good health and have a skill set that you can market, you will likely find another job – and possibly, a better one. Stay hopeful.
- Learn to be okay with change. Change is a part of living. You may have to modify a goal because your grandmother has fallen sick requiring you to go across the country to look after her. Accepting circumstances that cannot be changed can help you focus on circumstances that you can While you are looking after your grandmother, you can upgrade your skills by doing an online certification, for example. There are often hidden opportunities in every situation that you must be on the lookout for.
- Form meaningful connections. Good relationships with close family members, friends or others are important. Accepting help and support from those who care about you and will listen to you strengthens resilience. For some, being a part of community groups or faith-based organizations can provide a source of hope and inspiration. Assisting others in their time of need through volunteerism can also foster meaningful social connections.
- Take care of yourself. This is arguably the most important suggestion. Be attentive to your own needs and emotions. Spend time doing activities that you bring you joy and peace. Make sure to exercise regularly, so you are maintaining your health and well-being. Taking care of yourself helps to keep your mind and body primed to deal with stressful situations.
The above are just some thoughts about how you can cultivate resilience, so you are better equipped to tackle the challenges and stressors in life. Of course, you have to find the ways that are likely to work well for you as part of your own personal strategy to build resilience. Ultimately, being resilient involves building a mindset that is accepting, forgiving and forward-looking.
