You’ve likely heard the saying “Hard times create strong men”—and it’s true, adversity can oftentimes be an effective teacher. Throughout our lives, we’ll encounter a whole host of twists and turns and unexpected circumstances that put us to the test, whether it’s dealing with a difficult workplace, going through a divorce or the death of a loved one, or simply just facing everyday challenges. But when these hardships are thrown your way, do you bounce back or fall apart?
Every change in life, every setback crossed, and every misfortune faced affects people differently—our ability to adapt is always being tested. That’s where resilience comes in as a crucial skill to have. While it won’t magically make your problems go away, resilience helps you see past them and better handle stress. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the ways you can build the skills needed to harness your inner strength to help you take on life’s challenges.
What is resilience?
Resilience refers to our ability to successfully cope with tough times and adapt to difficult situations. It’s not about avoiding stressful situations but being able to face them head-on, both physically and psychologically, with courage and confidence. A resilient person can use the inner strength they have to rebound from whatever challenge they face and keep moving forward and showing up even after failure.
Why it’s important
From our personal to professional lives, challenges pop up across every area of our lives, so developing resilience can help us:
- Cope with stress: When you’re resilient, you’re less likely to be overwhelmed by stress and better able to stay calm under pressure.
- Overcome adversity: Resilience allows us to keep pushing forward and growing as people when faced with challenging circumstances.
- Protect our mental health: Being resilient can help protect you from several mental health conditions, including depression and anxiety.
- Maintain sound decision-making: Even when under pressure, resilience can help you make more rational decisions without allowing emotions to cloud your judgment.
How to improve your resilience
The road to becoming more resilient takes practice and patience. It’s not an overnight journey and it won’t always come easy. By focusing on the small steps first, you can get started. Below are some practical steps you can take to develop this key skill.
Reach out to others for support
You might assume resilience is all about figuring things out on your own—this isn’t the case at all, and you shouldn’t underestimate the power of a support system. One of the most important parts of developing resilience is having the ability to reach out to others for support. Investing time and effort into building and maintaining a support network of friends, family, and colleagues allows you to reach out to and rely on them for advice, guidance, and support when you need it most.
Prioritize your well-being
When things get tough, it’s easy to neglect your physical, mental, and emotional health as you become overwhelmed. But remember—a healthy body supports a healthy mind. Make time to tend to all aspects of your health; prioritize getting enough sleep, incorporate some physical activity into your day, and eat a healthy, balanced diet as a start. You could even start meditating, doing a hobby, practicing deep breathing exercises, or journaling.
Learn from experience
Think back to all the challenges, setbacks, and hardships you’ve faced throughout your life. Ask yourself: How did you overcome them? What skills did you use to cope and get through a difficult time? What did you learn from each experience?
All the troubles you face provide an opportunity for learning and growth. Instead of dwelling on the negatives, look for the lessons you were taught and how you can use your previous experiences to guide your actions and behavior going forward.
Seek professional guidance
If you feel like you’re struggling to make progress, or you simply want some help before getting started, it’s a good idea to reach out to a mental health professional for support and guidance. Finding a licensed professional, such as a life coach, psychologist, or social worker who has completed the requisite MSW programs, who can provide useful guidance and support when it comes to your mental health and coping with all of life’s challenges is invaluable.
