Cultivate Resilience
Dead-ends, potholes, and bad weather are constant fixtures on the meandering road of life for everyone. While these events may feel like mundane obstacles, there is something beautiful in their everlasting presence: they allow you the choice of how you will respond.
You can respond with anger and frustration. Or, maybe you take the event as a learning lesson and decide to apply it moving forward. You also always have the option of discarding the event completely and deciding that it’s not worth fussing over. At each obstacle, reflect on these options, and consider which is most productive to your growth and happiness.
These kinds of reflections are embodied in the quality of resilience. Resilience is often something that is learned throughout a lifetime, because challenge after challenge, we start realizing that each experience is only as difficult as our mind makes it. Resilience is thus the ability to put every event in perspective, and to see it clearly and rationally.
It can be hard to find this perspective with a mind trained in the habit of instant reaction. Here are some tips to help guide you on the path to resilience.
Practice self-care
Resilience requires physical and mental health to obtain a well-balanced and purposeful mindset. Make sure you get enough sleep, engage in healthy exercise, and take part in activities that bring you joy and relaxation. Breathing and mindfulness practices can be especially helpful in developing resilience.
Reframe negative thoughts
Instead of dwelling on what went wrong or what you can’t do, focus on what you can learn and how you can grow from the situation. Replace self-defeating thoughts with positive affirmations and realistic expectations.
Embrace change
Winston Churchill said it best—“To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.” Change is a constant in life, and harnessing its power will allow you to grow and improve. Instead of resisting or fearing change, be flexible and open-minded to new possibilities and perspectives.
We hope these tips will help you to find resilience, and thus greater joy in your life.
