No matter who we are, where we come from, we all face adversity in our lives. Whether it’s a personal problem or a shared reality, everyone faces their share of problems. We can’t always avoid or prevent them, but we can always change the way we face them – with resilience.
So, what is resilience?
Resilience is the capacity to withstand and recover from difficult times in a positive way. Bouncing back into shape sounds easy, but it takes time, strength, effort as well as good company.
According to Dr. Sood, resilience can be defined in terms of the following five principles:
- Gratitude
- Compassion
- Acceptance
- Meaning
- Forgiveness
How to build resilience
Reframe your situation
Take a step back and look at the situation again. At first glance, you might think it’s the worst day ever when it starts pouring, and your perfectly done hair looks like a soggy newspaper. But hey, maybe you’d bump into a stranger in the same situation as you, and you both end up chuckling at what a day it’s been! Things might not always seem as bad as they look!
Practice positive thinking
I find that one of the most effective ways to practice positive thinking is to practice gratitude. Be grateful for the present, what you have, and who you are. There are a million things to be grateful for each day. Start by listing three each day.
Embrace, acknowledge and let go
Don’t try to suppress your feelings. Embrace them. Acknowledge the emotions that you’re feeling. And when you’re done, allow yourself to slowly let go of those feelings. Just remember, everything will be okay.
The best way out is always through.
— Robert Frost
Reach out to your community
You are not alone. In fact, you would be surprised by how many people feel the same way as you or have been through similar situations. As long as you’re willing to reach out, there will always be a helping hand waiting.
To Conclude
Having resilience won’t necessarily make it easier to cope with difficulties, but it will definitely help you recover from them and get you back up on your feet. By practicing positive thinking and reframing situations, you can slowly build up greater resilience. Embrace your feelings and reach out to your friends and family for support. Always remember, you are not alone!
