How Resilient are You ?

How do you adapt to economic turmoil, crisis, disruptions, changes, transitions and stress ? I think it is a pretty complex topic and what makes you thrive and happy may be stressful for somebody else. However, no matter what the nature of the change, positive or negative, resilience is a skill that can be developed and defined according to The Global Resilience Network as : “the capacity of individuals, organizations and nations to survive and thrive amidst ongoing change, disruption and adversity.”

How do you react to stress and adversity ? The impact of external changes on individuals such as unemployment, switching to a new career, moving to a new country or going through a merger can create stress, fear, anger, depression, feeling like a victim, confusion, decrease in performance, ineffective problem solving or poor decision making. Coping skills are very personal and usually are learned from your past experiences and healthy habits. Resilience is not only overcoming setbacks, it is a mind-set inducing positive attitudes and behaviors to enlarge your vision of your life.

What are the Characteristics of Resilient People?
-Ability to "bounce back" and "recover from almost anything"
-Tendency to see problems as opportunities
-Have deep-rooted faith in a system of meaning
-Have a healthy social support network
-Help their communities
-Are prepared for the worst
-Have a balanced life
-Are confident and develop strengths to take new challenges
-Able to recover from experiences in the panic zone or of a traumatic nature

Developing Your Resilience :

1. Awareness : Learn what your hot buttons are; Who are toxic people in your life? what stresses you ? under what circumstances,? how do you feel ? what emotions do you have? look for negative self-talk, self-blaming. What coping strategies do you use? What energizes you? what activities are giving meaning to your life ? what do you like to do ? what are the positive emotions when you do something your really love?


2. Be in Control: When things go out of your control, focus on part of you life you can control like changing your own perception and perspective, developing healthy coping strategies such as exercise, journaling, talking with friends, suppressing negative self-talk. Be confident, take new challenges, stop playing the victim, develop a 'I can I will" mode


3. Create a support network: deepen your relationships with people in you network, share a hobby with friends, help other people


4. ...Click to get More Tips (From the Mayo Clinic)
   

Reference: The resilience factor: 7 keys to discovering your inner strength and overcoming life's hurdles (Karen Reivich & Andrew Shatte, Random House, 2003)