Resilience is our ability to accept or move through change and the hardships we meet over our lifetime. Everyone will face challenges, loss and unexpected difficulties, it is our ability to navigate and continue when faced with these experiences that show us how strong and balanced we are. Resilience exists when the person uses “mental processes and behaviors in promoting personal assets and protecting self from the potential negative effects of stressors”.
Many factors that determine resilience—such as genetics, early life experiences, and luck —can’t be modified. But specific resilience-building skills can be learned, developed and strengthened.
Psychologically healthy and emotionally balanced people innately know the strategies to move through life’s greatest challenges. Jnani Chapman was my yoga therapy mentor and her motto was: “Adjust, adapt, accommodate.” Terms I use with all of my clients, referring to both the physical body and to the psychological body.
Adjust, adapt, accommodate
Words we can use whenever we are faced with a challenge. What can adjust to make this work? How can I adapt to this situation? Is it possible to make an accommodation to this person’s needs so we can make this happen for everyone?
To be resilient we must face our problems realistically and do what we can in any given situation. By remaining aware, resilient people can maintain control of a situation and think of new ways to tackle problems. An optimistic outlook empowers you to look at a situation creatively and to hold to hope.
Developing Resilience
Develop realistic goals and do something regularly—even if it seems small you are moving forward— that enables you to move toward the things you want to accomplish. Prioritize and keep healthy relationships with family and friends so you can call on friends when needed. Take care of yourself, a healthy lifestyle keeps us strong when we need to be. Be willing to embrace both challenge and failure, we learn much from working through both. Be able to reframe difficult situations to look at programs in news ways and develop problem solving skills. And remember that you are not alone, everyone faces challenges in life. We will all have unforeseen complications, loss and suffering to deal with at some point in life. It really is a question of whether we see the glass half empty or half full.
