Cultivate resilience
What is resilience and how do we cultivate it? The Oxford dictionary defines resilience as “the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness.”
In times of change, we often experience difficult circumstances. Most of us want to recover quickly, but often we don’t understand how.
Resilience takes practice
First, we need to understand that resilience takes practice. We practice as we navigate the changing seasons of our lives.
“The good news is resilience can be learned. It involves developing thoughts, behaviors, and actions that allow you to recover from traumatic or stressful events in life.”
positivepsychology.com
We can develop our resilience by practicing the thoughts and behaviors that will help us recover from stressful events. Change is a constant and most of us will have countless opportunities to practice resilience in our lifetimes.
Characteristics of resiliency
Much resiliency research has been done in clinical settings, to help psychologists, psychiatrists and social workers treat conditions such as PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). One of the leading measures of resiliency is the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale.
Researchers Kathryn M. Connor and Jonathan R.T. Davidson identified several components of resilience, including the ability to:
- Adapt to change
- Deal with what comes along
- Cope with stress
- Stay focused and think clearly
- Not get discouraged in the face of failure
- Handle unpleasant feelings such as anger, pain or sadness.
Resilient people view change as a challenge
A resilient person understands that change is inevitable and that it can be an opportunity as well as a challenge. She recognizes that she has limited control and controls what she can.
A resilient person recognizes that she has choices, if not in her circumstances at least in how she handles her reactions to them. She knows when to engage the support of others.
A resilient person is action-oriented and looks for a way forward when she encounters obstacles. She is patient and optimistic, and has a sense of humor. And she balances her own goals with those of her family and community.
A resilient person has faith. She has faith in herself, in the world, and in God.
How do we cultivate resilience?
We cultivate resilience by practicing how we view change. And, we stay positive and optimistic; relying on our faith and reaching out to others when we need help.
Above all, we stay flexible and observant, both of our own inner lives and the circumstances around us. When we slow down and pay attention, we have the opportunity to better process the changes and develop positive plans for moving forward.
Resilience has its own payoffs
And the more we practice, the more resilient we become. Resilient people handle stress much better than those who aren’t resilient. So, when you cultivate resilience, you’re helping yourself navigate change more easily.
You’re giving yourself the gifts of better mental health, lower stress levels, and a renewed sense of purpose in your life. And that’s all good!
