Sunday 14 August 2022

What is resilience and why is it important?

WHAT IS RESILIENCE AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT




Resilience is a critical component of success. Without it, you would never be able to overcome the challenges and setbacks that life inevitably throws your way. Of course, everyone faces difficulties and obstacles, but how you deal with them determines whether or not you'll be successful.


Many factors contribute to resilience like having a positive outlook, a support network of family and friends, and a sense of control over your life. But one of the most important is simply having the ability to pick yourself up after being knocked down.


Here are four examples of how resilience can lead to success:


Overcoming a Difficult Childhood


Many successful people have overcome a difficult start in life. They've faced challenges like poverty, abuse, or neglect, and yet they've managed to bounce back and create a prosperous future for themselves. Take Oprah Winfrey, for example. She was born into poverty and suffered from sexual abuse as a child. But she didn't let those experiences define her. Instead, she used them as motivation to become one of the most successful women in the world.



Beating the Odds


Some people are dealt an intricate hand in life, but they manage to beat the odds and create a prosperous future. Consider J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter series. She lived on welfare in her country as a single mother when she wrote the first book. But she didn't give up, and today her books are some of the best-selling in history.



Facing a Major Setback


Everyone experiences problems that cause setbacks at some point in their life. How you deal with them determines whether you'll be successful or not. For example, Steve Jobs was fired from Apple, the company he co-founded, in 1985. Instead, he created another successful company, Pixar, and then returned to Apple in 1997 and turned it into today's tech giant.



Pursuing Your Dreams


It takes a lot of resilience to pursue your dreams, especially if they're not conventional ones. But it's often those who are willing to take risks and follow their heart that ends up being the most successful. Take Lady Gaga, for example. Stephanie dropped out of college to pursue her dream of becoming a singer. And today, she's one of the most successful recording artists and actresses in the world.

Remember that resilience is a significant key to success no matter what obstacles life throws at you. It is what gets you through difficult moments to continue to achieve your goals and live the life you want. With persistence and consistency, you will surprise yourself with what you can achieve by focusing on becoming more resilient.


Five Key Features of Resilience


The dictionary describes resilience as the “capacity to recover quickly and adapt to change.” A person can maintain their core values and beliefs when faced with adversity. When faced with the inevitable hardships the world will bring, you need to be resilient to overcome the situation.

Here are five critical features of resilience:


Self-Awareness


Self-awareness is a key component of resilience. It includes correctly identifying one's strengths and weaknesses to identify areas for improvement. It can help you build resilience by providing you with an awareness of what triggers you and how you typically react to certain situations. Identifying your strengths and weaknesses can provide you with an understanding of what triggers you and how you usually respond to certain conditions. You may be surprised by how much more information this provides than just asking people about their experiences.



Self-Confidence


Self-confidence gives you the ability to cope with difficulties and challenges in life. It gives you the power to overcome your fears and limitations. It is also an essential part of your mental health, which can be seen in how you interact with others and handle demanding situations.



Self-Compassion


Self-compassion means supporting yourself with the same understanding, kindness, and care you would give to a friend, loved one, or pet going through a difficult time and understanding yourself and your limitations without being overly critical or judgmental. Having and demonstrating self-compassion is a skill that can be learned, practiced, and developed over time. By cultivating self-compassion, you build up resilience and learn to take better care of yourself at any moment.



Social Support


It is believed that social support can help people with chronic illnesses, improve their quality of life, reduce the risk of suffering from mental illness and build resilience. Friends and family members can provide social support, but supportive online communities can also. 



Self-Efficacy


Self-efficacy is the degree of confidence, trust, or expectation an individual has for being able to carry out a specific behavior successfully. Individuals with high levels of self-efficacy often outperform those who don't. When people believe they can control their environment, it increases their sense of control and reduces stress levels. Self-efficacy also helps people feel more connected to themselves, others, and the world.



Taking the time to learn or incorporate these facets of resilience will help you grow more and become a stronger person. These facets work together to help you flourish and reach your full potential. Developing resilience can be challenging, but it's worth the work.


Seven Resilience-Building Tools to Try


Life can be tough. Everyone faces challenges and difficulties at some point. What matters is how you deal with them. Some people seem to have an innate resilience to weather any storm, while others struggle to cope with even the slightest setback. There is good news, though. Thankfully, resilience is something you can learn and develop over time. And some specific tools and practices can help build resilience in the face of adversity.


Here are seven of the best tools to try:

Cognitive Reframing


Cognitive reframing involves changing the way you think about a situation or problem. For example, instead of seeing a difficult situation as a personal failure, try to view it as a learning opportunity. Or rather than dwelling on the negative aspects of a situation, focus on the positive.


Emotional Regulation


This means learning to control and manage your emotions. For example, when feeling overwhelmed or stressed, take a few deep breaths and calm yourself down. It can also help to step away from the situation for a little while and come back when you feel more level-headed.

Exercise


Exercise releases endorphins, which have mood-boosting effects. Exercise reduces stress levels and improves overall physical and mental health. A moderate amount of activity is the key to maintaining good mental health.

Connect With Others


Humans require social interaction. Social interactions are crucial for maintaining good mental health, whether spending time with family and friends, volunteering, or joining a club or organization. Surrounding yourself with positive people who can offer emotional support can significantly affect how well you cope with difficult situations.

Eat a Healthy Diet


Eating a balanced diet helps your body to function at its best. It can improve mood, energy levels, and overall physical health. Avoiding as much processed food and ingredients as possible, plus eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains is key to maintaining a healthy diet.



Get Enough Sleep


When you don't get enough sleep, your body and mind are both exhausted. If you are not well-rested, it will lead to focus, concentration, and memory problems. It can also make you irritable, which by itself will increase stress levels. Getting enough sleep is crucial for maintaining good mental health.


Find a hobby


Doing something you enjoy can help reduce stress levels and improve your mood. A hobby provides a sense of purpose and satisfaction. Participating in hobbies is also a fantastic way to meet new people and connect with others who share your interests.


These tools are just a few ways to help you build resilience in the face of adversity. Experiment with different ideas so you can find what works best for you. And remember, even the most resilient people have bad days sometimes. So don't be too hard on yourself if you're struggling. Just keep trying, and eventually, you'll get through it.


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