Essential Strategies for Building Resiliency and Managing Stress
They say that the best things in life are unexpected. Unfortunately, so are some of the worst. Throughout one’s lifetime, one will undoubtedly experience stressful situations or other more traumatic events. They will often have no control over these life challenges, such as the death of a loved one, being diagnosed with an illness, or being dismissed from an important job. Well, if you can’t change what’s happening around you, you can focus on changing your reaction to what is happening around you. That is where it becomes imperative to learn how to improve your resilience when faced with some of life’s stressful challenges.
Understanding Resiliency: The Key to Overcoming Challenges
Resiliency can be described as the ability to adapt well to or overcome negative experiences. Along with the satisfaction that comes with being able to adapt well to a stressful event, learning to be more resilient has profound benefits for the individual. Resilient individuals grow on a personal level and become mentally stronger for future stressful events as well.
Resiliency is not a personality trait. It is a learned behavior or skill that anyone can develop and master. No matter who you are or what you are going through, practicing some of the following strategies will help you increase your resilience during difficult times.
Building Resilient Relationships: Strengthen Your Support System
Human beings are social creatures by nature. We thrive off of connecting with others. Building meaningful connections with others who will support and understand your trauma or pain will help you heal. Resiliency isn’t necessarily produced by avoiding all emotion but rather overcoming it. The phrase “feel it to free it” comes to mind. Along with those who care about your stress, it will be helpful to reach out to people who might have gone through a similar negative experience that you are going through. These people will help you realize you are not alone. In both cases, you are engaging with others who are validating your feelings. Validation of emotions and being heard leads to resilience. Some ways to build connections are reaching out to a trusted family or friend, talking to a therapist, or joining a support group.
Self-Love and Resilience: Taking Care of Your Mental and Physical Health
Taking care of yourself during hard times is an extremely beneficial way to build resiliency during hard times. Stress is not only related to your mental health but your physical health as well. Regularly working out, eating healthy foods, getting enough sleep, and staying hydrated will help strengthen your body and build resiliency both physically and mentally against stressful situations.
Another great method of increasing resilience is practicing emotion-focused coping methods such as journaling, praying, or meditating. Journaling has wonderful benefits as it releases the stressful, confusing, or cycling thoughts as the individual writes them down. The journal serves as an outlet where they can relieve emotion and build resiliency. Prayer and meditation where the individual focuses on gratitude and what positive aspects of their life also greatly help build resilience.
Finding Purpose: How Meaningful Goals Enhance Resilience
Living a meaningful life helps the individual build resilience to negative events by focusing on their purpose or goals. For example, someone who lost their sister to breast cancer might start a non-profit organization that helps raise money for cancer treatment and education. This will help the person and the community in tremendous ways. The individual has found a purpose derived from their negative event, honored their loved one, and helped others all at once.
Embrace Life’s Challenges: Mastering the Art of Resilience
Above all, it is important to remember that negative events or challenges are sometimes an unavoidable part of living life. Those who actively take steps to increase their resiliency during a stressful time often find that they feel like a stronger individual. When negative events come up in the future, they will feel proud of themselves for having overcome difficult situations in the past and better equipped to handle them at that time as well. Indeed, practice makes perfect when it comes to mastering any behavior or skill, and learning to be resilient is no exception.
