Resilience determines whether you thrive or merely survive. It is the characteristic that allows people to adapt to hardship and stress. By being resilient, you can maintain joy and regain your strength. You pursue success even if it requires a second or third try.
We are resilient even in the toughest of times. Sometimes in the most trying circumstances, it is difficult to realize. Understand the principles of resilience better and you will find it within yourself.
Principle One: Adaption
The trite way to describe adaption is making lemonade out of lemons. Sometimes, plans do not work out as imagined. The job you thought would lead to prestige or success ends in lay-offs. Despite your own love of sports, you discover your child is not athletically inclined.
Life is full of disappointments. But it offers good alternatives too.
Adaption means finding another plan. Accept your child would rather play chess than soccer, and encourage her participation in the chess club or tournaments. The job that ends opens the door to new possibilities. It is not uncommon for those things unplanned to work out better than the original intention.
Principle Two: Healing
Disappointment hurts. This is especially true when it arises out of crisis. Marriages ending, houses facing foreclosure, or loved ones passing away can all cause a deep hurt that never seems to let go.
Resilience involves knowing that any hurt is survivable in the long run. Even if you require professional intervention to support your healing process, acknowledging the feelings and managing them will help you heal. You may not feel better right away but a resilient person knows she will eventually recover.
Principle Three: Strength
The strongest people know they do not have to be strong all the time. They know that
breaking down is often the precursor to building back up. Retreating then reassessing means a better outcome. That is why people often report that they find solutions to problems after a good long cry. Releasing that tension means a better outlook while you come out of it stronger and more resilient than before.
Once through this process, any hardship that arises later will not seem as difficult. The reason why is simple: you know for certain now that you can survive. You have proof that things get better.
With resilience, you know you can adapt, heal, and be strong. Look for these principles within yourself and you will realize your own path to resilience.
