Resilience is a term used in a variety of ways and contexts. Some questions to ask yourself:
Are you resilient?
Do you want to be resilient?
Why is resilience necessary?
What the hell does it mean to be resilient?
Resilience can be an individual characteristic, a learning process, or an outcome resulting from adversity. In the ‘Resilience’ AMindset articles, we will focus on resilience within the confines of a person’s ability to adapt successfully to acute stress, trauma, or more chronic forms of adversity. We are a mental health company that improve lives, so let’s look at how our articles can enhance your life. ☺
Resilience is positive whether it is considered an outcome, a process, or a capacity. Having resilience allows us to use adaptive responses in the face of significant adversity. And the joy is there is no end by date to the capacity of resilience within us. It is neither an immutable trait nor a resource that can be used up.
So first, let’s look at the biology; resilience results in healthy development because it protects the developing brain and other organs from the disruptions produced by excessive activation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis stress response systems. To avoid the complexity of neuroscience, stated simply, resilience transforms potentially toxic stress into tolerable stress.
Toxic Stress = Prolonged adversity
Tolerable Stress = Normative life experiences
So, resilience is rooted in both the adaptation and the experiences that a person has experienced. And these experiences are logged from infancy. These life experiences either promote or limit our capacity to develop resilience.
So don’t run away from negativity; it helps build resilience. Challenge the negative experience and become stronger and more resilient as a result.
If you would like to speak with a counsellor about how we can support you, please contact us.
Liz McCaughey
Find out more about Liz here
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: Executive Coach & Leadership Consultant