Life can be messy.
And as much as we’d like to have control over the unknowns in this world, there will sometimes be sudden and swift challenges. You could lose a loved one, have a medical crisis, face unemployment, or experience a natural disaster without any warning. A successful life isn’t about predicting the messes. It’s about having the courage and the ability to bounce back after these potentially traumatic events.
Resilience is a fancy word for how well you can adapt over time in a period of high stress. And lucky for us, researchers have found that resilience is more common than you would think. Most of us can identify challenges and losses we overcame, and take pride in who we are because of them.
Being resilient doesn’t mean that you’re immune to stress or hardship, or that you’re free of emotions. Resilient people can feel anger, frustration, and sadness, but their body and mind keep functioning through the worst of it. Also, resilience isn’t something you have or don’t have. Over time, anyone can foster the behaviors, thoughts, and actions that promote bouncing back.
What’s so attractive about being resilient?
To start, you’ll be better able to make plans and carry them out, and you’ll have more self-confidence in your abilities. You’ll be able to better communicate your needs to others, and solve problems when others would just throw their hands up in response. You’ll be better in control of your emotional responses, and be less at risk for anxiety, depression, and even Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Anyone can acquire the skills to bounce back if they take the time to do the work. Here are a few tips to get you started:
1. Build relationships.
Reconnect with family members or join a local communication organization or a faith-based group. Sometimes you can find that helping other people will be a source of hope to you in times of stress.
2. Focus on the facts.
We spend most of our lives afraid of what could happen rather than what’s has actually occurred. Not blowing things out of proportion and keeping a broader, long-term perspective can keep you from feeling overwhelmed by your circumstances.
3. Reframe your experiences.
When you see every day as a learning experience rather than something to be feared, you’ll be more engaged by problems and be open to new strategies for living well. Focus on what you can change rather than things outside your control.
4. Take care of yourself.
Successful people don’t apologize for taking care of themselves. Finding activities that bring you joy discovering new positive traits in yourself make you less likely to beat yourself up when things don’t go your way.
To figure out what bouncing back strategies will work for you, consider what stressful events you’ve experienced in the past. What did you learn about yourself, and how were you able to overcome those obstacles?
More than likely the tools you need are already there. Keep them at your disposal, and your bounce-back potential will carry you through the worst of days. Life may still get messy at times, but you’ll never get lost in the cleanup again.
Until then, Be Limitless and Discover Your Next.
What’s Your Next?
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