Try These 7 Resiliency-Building Tips

Resiliency is more than just coping. It is excelling in both the small and large challenges of life and coming through them stronger than before. It’s the emotional strength that helps you recover quickly – and thoroughly – from change.

Resiliency also helps you bounce back after any adversity.

Just as spring flowers are able to pop up and thrive after a long winter, so can the resilient person bounce back after a difficult event, such as the death of a loved one, divorce, financial setback or sudden illness.

But just as the grass needs water, sun, food and nurturing to become green again, people need these seven vital qualities to recover from adversity. Because being resilient is a skill that can be applied to any area of life.

1) Be Optimistic

In any life situation, you are responsible for at least one thing: You are always responsible for the attitude towards the situation in which you find yourself.

Your attitude is your reaction to what life hands you. You can have either a more positive or a more negative attitude. Your attitude is under your control and can be changed.

Problems and challenges do exist. Having an optimistic attitude involves believing you can cope, and acting in such a way as to influence the outcome.

With the right attitude, you can be a resilient person.

2) Focus on Solutions

Do you see problems as opportunities for learning and growth or as automatic setbacks?

Problem solvers are open to new ideas that bring about a resolution. They are adaptable and expect change, so they are ready for it.

Are you resourceful and take an active approach to solve problems?

A resilient person copes with stressful things in life and becomes stronger as a result. They are “doers” not “complainers.” They find meaning and purpose in their struggles.

3) Cultivate Supportive Relationships

Are there people around you who are caring and supportive? Do they bring you up instead of down? Do you have family or friends that support you during tough times?

These relationships are especially valuable in childhood.

When parents, grandparents, teachers or other mentors are no longer present, covet the supportive relationships you do have, because supportive relationships encourage resiliency, which can lead to success.

 

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4) Enjoy Simple Joys

Do you stop to smell the roses?

A resilient person can take great pleasure in small things. Many things in life that can bring happiness and joy cost little or no money.

Can you list 20 things that you like to do? How many options to enjoy something does life offer?

Many things are just fun, and others offer enjoyment simply because they give you a sense of accomplishment when you do them.

Get together with a friend or two and share your list. You may be reminded of things you like to do but have forgotten.

5) Live by Sense of Purpose

Do you have a mission and vision for your best life? Are there things you are passionate about that help you move through difficult times?

Resilient people participate fully in things that are meaningful to them. They may be involved in social or community events or provide a service to other people.

Having a sense of purpose encourages setting and achieving goals for daily living as well as for accomplishing increasingly challenging tasks.

6) Care for Yourself

Do you take responsibility to reduce the stressors in your life?

Resilient people know their needs and are also not afraid to ask for help. They are self-disciplined and able to act independently. They are also proactive. They do not dependent on external things to cause them to thrive.

Self-care further includes knowing when to take a break.

7) Maximize Strengths

What are you good at? Are you integrating these skills and strengths into your life?

A main characteristic of resiliency is the ability to cultivate strengths to positively meet the challenges of life. Everyone has some natural and enduring qualities that, when put to use, expand their achievements and benefit those around them.

Resilient people are also able to tap resources and relationships in a way that maximizes their strengths and encourages others as well. This can be especially beneficial during tough times of change or tragedy.

With the power of resiliency, even though “dry spells” or “heavy rains” or “strong winds” can grab some petals from the “stem,” life renews, bounces back and even thrives.

Apply resiliency to any area of your life and you have a proven formula to get more done in less time, and with more energy, in a constantly changing world. Less stress and less anxiety will follow!

Discover your strengths and put energy into developing them; there you have extraordinary potential!