Are You Resilient?

Life is full of ups and downs. Resilience is the trait that will overcome the discouraging circumstances. It’s important to build resilience so that when faced with challenging moments, the skills to overcome them will come naturally. The ability to bounce back after hardship can affect many aspects of your life.

The more resilience an individual possesses, the quicker they’re able to readjust and move forward in life.

Here are five things to consider as you work to build your resilience. 

1. First Responses.

When you are faced with challenges, how do you usually respond?

Sometimes people ignore the situation and pretend it will just go away. Even the most uncomfortable struggles will most likely need to be faced head on. However, with resilience, it can be easier to see the situation from a different perspective and approach it head on. It’s important to define the issue, consider all the options, and make a plan to overcome it. When situations are approached with resilience, they are more likely to be solved before they even become a bigger issue.

Using problem-solving skills and facing problems head on will help avoid bigger problems.

2. Reflect on Past Events.

Do you try to forget about the challenges in your past? 

Instead, it’s important to use what was learned from these challenges to navigate present or future situations. Reflecting on past challenges may bring negative thoughts, embarrassment, or sadness. However, when looking past the struggle of the situation, the skills in overcoming it start to show through. These skills may not have been noticeable or even existing before. It’s ok to have a moment of peace, pride, or even happiness when considering the level of personal growth that came from the struggles.

Focusing energy on lessons and skills learned from past experiences builds resilience.

3. Practice Daily

Do you work to accomplish something, however small, each day?

In order to strengthen resilience, it’s important to find positive moments in each day. Instead of only noticing the negative things in life, consider each day an opportunity to find something positive, even if it’s just one small thing.

This might be something as simple as going for a walk or cleaning the living room. Practicing resilience can be done in any number of ways. Start by completing tasks that have a personal meaning.

4. Cultivate Your Support Network.

Do you have plenty of friends and family to call on if you need something? 

Resilient individuals build a supportive system of people they can visit, call, talk to, and turn to when they are struggling.

It’s important to build a support network to help keep you moving toward your goals. This network of loving and caring people can help build resilience by providing reminders of positive traits and accomplishments. 

There are a number of ways to find a supportive network. If there isn’t one available in your local community, consider looking for support groups online. There are a number of online groups that are made up of strangers facing similar situations. As individuals share their struggles, they tend to bond over them, creating the support network we all need. 

5. Take Time to Care for Yourself

Do you treat yourself as if you’re the most important person in your life? 

It’s important to recognize and act upon personal needs. When taking the time to care for yourself, you will become stronger emotionally. This allows you to be more resilient when faced with a crisis. 

If your health and living situation are at the top of your priority list, you’ll find yourself prepared to face any challenge, whether emotional or physical.

Throughout your life, you will inevitably be faced with challenges, transitions, and hardships. If you confront situations as soon as possible, use knowledge learned from past mistakes and challenges, and build your support network, you’ll be on your way to building resilience for the future.