We never exactly know what the future will bring. Despite what we consider to be our well-deserved rights, we just might find them all go up in flames with life’s unforeseen traumas and misfortunes.
When a significant challenge hits, how well are you prepared to face its blow to your emotional, physical, spiritual, and financial well-being? Do you have what it takes to bounce back from a loss of a job, death of a loved one, personal illness, or other such hardships? Would you consider yourself to be resilient or a potential victim for future setbacks?
What does it mean to be resilient?
People who are resilient have the capacity to recover from the onslaught of traumatic events in their lives. Not only do they have the mindset but the behaviors that allow them to withstand and bounce back from major tribulations.
Conversely, people who lack resilience tend to:
- Fixate on their problems instead of getting past them.
- Experience overwhelming feelings of depression, anxiety, and/or stress.
- Resort to unhealthy mechanisms such as overeating and substance abuse to cope.
How can you become more resilient?
Aspire to excel.
In today’s fast-paced environment, we tend to expect instant gratification in most aspects of our lives. To build your resilience, change this mindset to one that is focused on cultivating a quality lifestyle now and for a viable future. Make this a daily endeavor.
Anticipate change.
Life is a mixture of good and bad experiences. Learn to flow with these ups and downs as an inevitable part of change. Treat turbulent times as a lesson to strengthen your resolve and to fortify your coping strategies for a better tomorrow.
Explore new options.
You have choices, so open yourself up to the plethora of possibilities available to you. Keep informed on the latest trends to better your health and financial well-being. Delve into the mechanisms you need to manage your emotions and to stay centered as you go through times of dramatic change.
Be self-aware.
Understanding who you are, including your strengths and limitations, is essential to your success. Tease out and start working on any attitudes or behaviors that might prevent you from doing what it takes to become resilient.
Initiate an action plan.
Good intentions can get lost in their execution without a tangible course of action. To realize your dreams, identify where you want to go and how you want to get there. Create a plan, consisting of a set of realistic goals and corresponding steps, to guide you through this process. Take decisive action to implement your plan.
Keep things in perspective.
It can be difficult to predict or alter the fact that horrific things can happen to us. Instead of going into denial or obsessing over a future beyond your control, prepare yourself with the tools you need to become emotionally, physically, and financially fit.
Build a coalition of supporters.
You are not alone. Surround yourself with competent people who care about you and are willing to invest in your well-being. Seek their advice and let their experience model the way for you. Embrace the comfort of their companionship and find the fun that comes with spending time with them.
Believe in yourself.
What might seem impossible can become possible with a “can do” attitude. Face your problems with the conviction that you can and will overcome them. Be optimistic that good things will happen in your life because of your making. And, yes, it’s on you.
How you choose to live your life now will significantly impact what happens to you in the future. In one way or another, we will eventually face the consequences of our actions. So, why not aim for consequences that will be beneficial to you?
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Written by: Patricia K. Flanigan, Smart Strategies for Successful Living
Patricia K. Flanigan has worked in higher education for over 28 years. She holds a doctoral degree in Organizational Leadership from the University of La Verne as well as a M.A. in Latin American Studies and B.A. in Anthropology from the University of California, Los Angeles. Before retiring and moving to Idaho in 2015, she served as the dean of online education and learning resources at Saddleback College, a large community college in Southern California. She currently consults in higher education, volunteers for AARP, writes for a local magazine, and serves as an Affiliate Faculty member at Boise State University and a contributing member to LEARN Idaho. Since February 2017, she has been the founding director for Smart Strategies for Successful Living, a community-based website designed to promote quality aging. As an educator, her focus is to inspire others to live and age well.
Related Resources
Resilience: Build skills to endure hardships: CLICK HERE
Source: Mayo Clinic10 Ways to Build Your Resilience: CLICK HERE
Source: verywellMind9 Ways to Strengthen Your Resilience: CLICK HERE.
Source: Psychology Today
