What is Resilience?
Resilience is the ability to bounce back after a setback. A MayoClinic.com article of July 18, 2007 defines resilience as "the ability to adapt well to stress, adversity, trauma or tragedy."
Resiliency
Life is full of the unexpected. It's been said that life is what happens when we have other plans. Positive unexpected events aren't normally a problem, in fact we tend to call those situations good fortune. But the negative events that intrude on our lives are much more likely to derail us and rob us of appreciation and enjoyment of each day.
In order to succeed, people need a sense of self-efficacy, struggle together with resilience to meet the inevitable obstacles and inequities of life. ~Albert Bandura
Resilience Can Be Learned
Some people are naturally more resilient than others, probably because of a tendency to be optimistic thinkers. But we all can learn to be more resilient with practice. Perspective is an important consideration in overcoming adversity. Life experience tends to show us that most of the negatives of life are transient. We lose a job, but find another. We lose a relationship, but enter into a better one. We make a poor choice and suffer a loss, but learn from it and make better choices in the future.
This too shall pass, is a good phrase to keep in mind when negative events intrude. Research tells us the results of negative events are seldom as severe as we expected them to be.
Resilience Affirmations
Affirmations are a good way to reinforce the trait of resilience. More than reminders, properly constructed affirmations are like programming instructions for your mind.
Example Positive Affirmations
I am resilient.
I easily bounce back from setbacks.
My goals and visions are clear and they provide the target for me when I must bounce back from negative events.
This too shall pass.
I am confident that I can handle any situation that transpires.
When something negative arrives unexpectedly, I ask if this is a matter of life and death. If not, I simply do my best to handle it and get back to my life as soon as possible.
I have handled many, many negative events in my life, and I can handle this one too.
Nothing keeps me down for long. I am good at bouncing back.
Tips to Improve Resilience
In addition to affirmations, Mayo Clinic staff recommends:
- Building strong, positive relationships with people who will listen and support you.
- Using humor and laughter to find something funny in your stressful situation.
- Learning from your experiences by recalling how you've coped with adversity in the past.
- Remaining hopeful, optimistic, and expecting good results.
- Taking care of yourself, both physically and emotionally.
- Being flexible and looking for the opportunities available within any new situation.
- Working toward your goals by doing something every day that gives you a sense of accomplishment.
- Learning new things about yourself and the outside world,nurturing your self-confidence and self-esteem so that you feel strong, capable and self-reliant.
The bamboo that bends is stronger than the oak that resists. ~Japanese Proverb
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