Resilience in the Face of a Hectic World
It’s probably not news to you that the current state of affairs in the world is-- how should I put it-- absolutely bonkers? Everyone will agree that 2020 has been a doozy of a roller coaster: the pandemic, racial inequality, police brutality protests, and a hotly contested presidential election, we have all struggled with varying degrees of obstacles. Whether the constant deluge of negativity on the news wears you down, or you have personally dealt with sudden life changes, your mindset and how well you deal with challenges can vary. Now more than ever (groan, I know everyone is tired of hearing that phrase) it is important to hone certain skills that build resilience in the face of adversity.
What is Resilience?
You may have heard discussions about resilience as of late. Resilience, or more specifically psychological resilience, is defined as “the ability to mentally or emotionally cope with a crisis or to return to pre-crisis status quickly.” In other words, resilience is your ability to experience the knocks of life without being down for too long. While there are a lot of contributing factors that determine resilience, like mental health and genetics, there are skills that can be learned and improved upon to help yourself through tough times. This might be why, since March, some of us have been feeling like an emotional wreck, while others are outwardly happier than ever. Let’s take a look at the basic tools you can use to build resilience through these uncertain times.
The Tools of Resiliency
Depending on who you talk to about resilience, there are anywhere from 5 to 10 key factors to building your resilience. Consider these your toolkit for overcoming adversity. Since our existence is always in the present-- we can’t predict the future-- it is best to work on strengthening these areas before the poo hits the fan.
Build Connections:
Having a wealth of family and community members to reach out to when times are tough can help you navigate change in a manageable way. Foster relationships in your life with people you can confide in and trust. Coworkers, relatives, neighbors, and other community members as a way to build your own resilience. A sense of community is one of the key factors in determining a higher overall life satisfaction, according to the Happiness Research Institute of Denmark.
When a car accident occurred outside my home late one night, all our neighbors came out to investigate. Upon realizing our neighbor’s car had been badly damaged, I offered for her to use our car until her insurance sorted everything out. By fostering my community relationships, I was able to nurture a support network that I can later rely on when I might face adversity.
Take Care of Your Body and Mind
If you’ve ever had something happen at the end of a long work day, when you’re tired and hungry and have a headache, you know that the smallest thing can tip you over the edge. Taking care of your physical and mental state is paramount in building resilience. It helps your nervous system, which controls everything from breath to hormones and sleep, take on new challenges and obstacles in a sustainable way. Eating well, avoiding substances like nicotine and alcohol, exercising regularly, and maintaining good sleep hygiene will set your physical body up for success. Plus, added bonus, you’ll probably have a lot more energy and feel happier. When you are encountering a difficult time, it’s important to take extra time for your body and mind. Stress management can do wonders for getting through tough times. Yoga, meditation, prayer, even massage services help you to decompress and relax, even for a brief moment.
Find Purpose, Goals, and Foster Self-Discovery
At the beginning of the Pandemic, I struggled to feel any sense of purpose or direction. My job was furloughed, and the uncertainty facing the world made lots of things feel kinda pointless. So, I did some thinking and found that I have a variety of things I’m passionate about, like teaching children social and emotional intelligence. Projects around this gave me clarity and a structure during long days of quarantine. Find something you feel passionate about and driven to accomplish. It can help you through dark or uncertain times. Set small goals along the way to make progress on longer-term passion projects.
Adopt a Healthy Mindset
If you’re naturally a pessimistic or cynical person, it’s difficult to develop a more positive outlook, especially in the face of adversity. Resilience depends on the ability to accept change and move forward with hope and optimism. That doesn’t mean unfounded, foolish optimism; faking happy all the time is not a healthy mindset. By acknowledging struggles for the hard emotions they bring, as well as the opportunities they present for us to grow, you can take on the hectic world and see a glimmer of light. A great way to begin developing a more positive mindset is to write down 3 personal wins every day, and 3 things you’re grateful for. They don’t have to be big or important-- I am often most grateful for my cup of coffee in the morning. Some days, you might be hard pressed to think of three good things. Slowly, you begin to see more and more good in the world around you. Want to read more on how gratitude can shift your whole perspective? See our blog post from April 2017.
Seek Help
If you have one takeaway from this article, I want it to be this: you are not alone in this hectic, tumultuous time. I’m not sure why or how our society began to view seeking help as a sign of failure or weakness. I think it is one of the bravest things a person can do. If things become too hard, or you just need someone to be a cheerleader, reach out. There are many resources available, professional or personal, to provide assistance. Being able to ask for help, be vulnerable with those that can help, and work together through adversity, can build your resilience and give you more tools to rely on later in life.
One of the most incredible parts of human existence is our ability to self-reflect, grow, and change our surroundings. When we find ourselves faced with seemingly impossible challenges, there is a choice to be made. We can allow ourselves to be defeated, or rise from the ashes more resilient than ever. Being resilient does not mean never struggling or failing. Resilience is what picks us up, dusts us off, and tells us to try again.
More Resources:
Brene Brown’s Rising Strong
Greater Good Magazine by UCBerkeley