If you read part one of this post, you may have already taken time to consider your resilience record and calibrate a resilient outlook. If so, you’ve recognized that you’re pretty resilient already, and incorporated some added hopefulness into your approach.
And that means you’re ready for Step 3: Develop resilience.
Here are seven ways to persevere through and bounce back from difficult experiences:
Be willing to give and accept help.
Nurturing relationships with friends, family members, or new acquaintances can build a support system that’s there when you need it. Helping others through their difficult times can also remind you of your own strength to persevere.
Spend your energy wisely.
Focusing on things outside of your control isn’t useful or wise. While what’s happening may be unavoidable, your response to it is something you can affect.
Mitigate the suck.
It can be tempting to shut down or otherwise avoid painful situations. Rather than emotionally detaching from a situation, work to improve it in whatever way you can.
Consider how you may benefit from the situation.
Pain often yields gain. Try to identify ways in which you or the future may be better as a result of going through this.
Move forward.
Identify some goals that keep you moving through the difficult time. Acknowledging steps forward—however small—affirms your progress and encourages more.
Maintain perspective.
When it feels like things couldn’t be worse, it can be helpful to think of how they could be. Don’t invalidate your feelings, but do try to take a broader view in which your situation looks less consuming.
Practice self care.
Resilience takes work. When we feel depleted, we may not be up to the task. Before you get to a state of overwhelm, take some time to nurture your body and mind.
You’ve got this!
