Times are not easy. How do we develop greater resilience to withstand adversity and bounce back from difficult life events?
In a recent interview with Authority Magazine, I shared “Five Things You Can Do To Become More Resilient.” Here they are:
#1: Choose the Right Attitude Daily
Have you ever noticed the happiest and most successful people in life tend to have great attitudes? Each of us must make the decision to choose the right attitude daily. It’s not our circumstances that make us unhappy. It’s our attitude in our circumstances that makes us unhappy. Even in the middle of a bad situation, you can make the decision to have a good attitude. You have an attitude of “this is the absolute worst thing ever” or an attitude of “the best is yet to come.” You can have an attitude of “this will never end” or an attitude of “this too shall pass.” You get to decide. I can’t guarantee you it will always be easy, however, I can promise you it will always be worth it!
#2: Choose Affiliations Wisely
It’s extremely difficult to be your best, especially in the face of adversity, when you’re surrounded by negative people. For that reason, choose your affiliations wisely. Business philosopher Jim Rohn said, “You must constantly ask yourself these questions: Who am I around? What are they doing to me? What have they got me reading? What have they got me saying? Where do they have me going? What do they have me thinking? And most important, what do they have me becoming? Then ask yourself the big question: Is that okay?” Surround yourself with individuals who share your vision and values and who will inspire you to become who you were born to be even when times get tough.
#3: Celebrate Your Accomplishments
Take some time to appreciate and celebrate how far you’ve already come. You’ve overcome obstacles to get to where you are today. You have survived and thrived beyond challenges in the past. If the need arises, you can do it again!
#4: Find Something Positive in Every Situation
John C. Maxwell shares a story in his book, Make Today Count, about a 92-year-old woman who was moving into a nursing home. She was legally blind and her husband of 70 years had passed away. Moving into the nursing home was her only option. After waiting in the lobby of the nursing home for a long time, an attendant told her that her room was ready. While escorting her down the corridor, he described the room in detail. The elderly woman said, ‘I love it!” The attendant said, “But you haven’t even seen the room yet.” She said, “That doesn’t have anything to do with it. Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn’t depend on how the furniture is arranged. It’s how I arrange my mind.” It’s human nature to focus on the things we don’t like. When we narrow in on what’s wrong in our lives, what’s wrong can end up being all we see. Make it a habit to find something positive in every situation. That way, even in the most difficult circumstances, you’ll have the optimism and hope to pull you through.
#5: Learn How to Manage Worry
What we are facing today is very real. In the last few years, things have changed for all of us. And, there are new challenges to face every day. Yet, even now, there is hope and opportunity. However, to seize opportunity, you need to be able to see opportunity. In a heightened state of worry and anxiety, our thinking can become impaired. It can be difficult to hear clearly and opportunities can be missed. For that reason, it’s important to regulate your emotions by managing worry. Learn how to transform worry into inner peace so you can see and seize opportunity even during difficult times.
After reading about these five things you can do to become more resilient, which one are you already doing well? Which one needs your attention the most? Do all you can to cultivate resilience. It will help you to bounce back more easily from setbacks, challenge, and change. As motivational guru Zig Ziglar said, “It’s not how far you fall, but how high you bounce that counts.”