Resilience is the ability to positively process adversity, trauma and significant stress. Stress can be in the form of relational problems, health problems and, of course, financial problems. So, to put it colloquially, resilience is measured on a person ability to “bounce back’ after experiencing an adverse event. No one likes to undergo painful and difficult circumstances, but we will become stronger and more empowered if we learn from them.

Life will present us with difficulties, and we must navigate our way through them with as little difficulty and emotional pain as possible. Resilience is not about avoiding challenges; it is about coping with them to get on after that negative experience. 

Certain factors make some individuals more resilient than others, and genes or a specific personality type does not govern the level of resilience. Learning to become resilient is available to everyone, but it does mean experiencing some form of adversity. However, like any training regime, it takes time to build the resilience muscle, and you have to keep going, no matter how sore the ‘muscle’ gets.

Some basic steps can be taken to help you on your way to building resilience:

• Keeping a good connection to your thoughts and being aware of your feelings.
• Looking after yourself at a physical level.
• Avoiding too much emotional & mental Stress – a little bit is OK, but if it is constant, it may be time to retreat.
• Having a goal in life, you wake up each day with meaning and intention.

Building resilience requires patience, but it is worth the effort as every time you overcome thinking, you start to think more logically and positively. This clear thinking, in turn, enables you to be more focused on your goals as you see what must be done for you to move on. Even if you don’t know the exact destination, at least you know you are going in the right direction.

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

Other Articles:

Is learning to be resilient a positive life experience? – Yes!

Resilience vs Adversity – Childhood Lessons