There
are people in my life that seem to bounce back from bad luck, or even embrace
the situation and make something grand from it. Generally known as resilience.
It is something that I do not understand, but a characteristic that I would
love to develop.
I
thought I would look into the concept of building resilience, and see if there
are some easy tips. It is suggested that resilient people tend to maintain a
more positive outlook and cope with stress more effectively. Research has also shown
that while some people seem to come by resilience naturally, these behaviors
can also be learned.
I
am not sure if I am naturally a resilient person. It is something that I have
to work at.
There
is no quick fix. “Resilience won't make your problems go away — but resilience
can give you the ability to see past them, find enjoyment in life and better
handle stress.”
Al
Siebert, PhD, writes that “highly resilient people are flexible, adapt to new
circumstances quickly, and thrive in constant change. Most important, they
expect to bounce back and feel confident that they will. They have a knack for
creating good luck out of circumstances that many others see as bad luck.” Siebert
also notes that resilient people are adept at seeing things from another
person’s point of view.
It
is important to take action to build resilience. A passive approach may not
work. Just like you need to eat healthy you need to regularly top up your
resilience levels. If you feel you have low levels of resilience or are stressed
these are some simple things to remember:
- make some lifestyle changes – review your life and be proactive at trying to remove the stress
- look after your physical health – exercise often, eat well and get enough sleep
- give yourself a break – back off on the self imposed pressure
- use your support network – turn to your family and friends, it can be a joy to really connect with people
The
Experience Life website provides five very interesting evidence based
approaches to developing resilience.
Pump
up the positivity
Barbara
Fredrickson, PhD, the author of Positivity (Crown Archetype, 2009) indicates
that Resilient people are characterized by an ability to experience both
negative and positive emotions even in difficult or painful situations, she
says. They mourn losses and endure frustrations, but they also find redeeming
potential or value in most challenges.
Live
to Learn
Think
of challenges as opportunities to evolve and learn. One strategy for
cultivating a learner mindset is to use “question thinking,” a method of
problem solving developed by psychotherapist and executive coach Marilee Adams,
PhD.
Open
your heart
Acts
of kindness, and the serotonin boosts that accompany them, have a cumulative
effect. Formally organizing acts of kindness, like regularly volunteering in a
soup kitchen can be a great way to topping up your resilience.
Take
care of yourself
Daily
habits count: When you’re caught up on sleep, eating well and keeping stress
levels low, you’ll be less fragile and less likely to fall into unhealthy
patterns following a serious setback or tragedy. Carol Orsborn, PhD, author of
The Art of Resilience: 100 Paths to Wisdom and Strength in an Uncertain World
(Three Rivers Press, 1997), indicates it is important to take regular mental
breaks, mediation or daydream.
Hang
on to humour
Laughing
in the face of adversity can be profoundly pain relieving, for both the body
and mind. Al Siebert in The Survivor Personality (Perigee Books, 2010)
The
5 best ways to build Resiliency
Mind
– for better mental health
How
to manage stress
10
Ways to Become More Resilient
Build
Your Resilience and Coping Skills With These Tips
- Find a sense of purpose in your life
- Build Positive Beliefs in Your Abilities
- Develop a Strong Social Network
- Embrace Change
- Be Optimistic
- Nurture Yourself
- Develop Your Problem-Solving Skills
- Establish Goals
- Take Steps to Solve Problems
- Keep Working on Your Skills
Kids
Matter
Building
resilience to cope with stress
