“Keep your face always toward the sunshine – and shadows will fall behind you.” Walt Witman.
What do those words mean?
We can defeat our fears and inhibitions if we keep moving forward. But how does one keep moving forward when life turns simply terrible? To answer this question we have to find out what separates successful people from the unsuccessful.
There is one key difference between the two: those who succeed have mastered the art of bouncing back from failure. This remarkable trait that these people possess is called Resilience.
Resilience defines how well we handle adversity, setbacks, and stress. Being resilient in difficult times can make all the difference in the outcome. Fight or flight is our body’s natural response when the mind perceives danger. These usually have a physical manifestation, for example, sweaty palms and a racing heartbeat.
Resilience, however, works at a deeper level. Practicing resilience not only means braving out challenges but also keeping a positive outlook on life in spite of failure.
But how does one remain unaffected by hardships?
It sounds pretty difficult meaning it doesn’t come to us naturally. But it is a trait that can be attained through time and practice.
10 ways to develop resilience
Here are 10 ways to develop resilience and breeze through life’s challenges:
1. Let Adversity Be Your Teacher
We can learn so much even in testing times. Each difficulty changes us for the better, imparting those attributes to our personality which did not exist before. So learn to treat adversity not as your enemy but as your teacher. Approach your problems prepared to adapt yourself to circumstances. No matter how bad things are, ask yourself: What can I learn from this? What am I lacking that I could improve on?
Problems can either break or make you, stick by this mantra. Chances are you will not only make it out of the storm but emerge stronger than ever before.
2. Trust Yourself
Part of being resilient is having faith in your ability to overcome challenges. Your belief in yourself gives you hope of overcoming obstacles. Self-doubt in difficult circumstances hampers your ability of solving your problems. So have quiet confidence in your talents and trust your ability to resolve any crisis.
3. Accept Change
Growth and change are inevitable as we go through life. Resisting change is what causes us stress and anxiety which further impairs our capability of tackling challenges. To accept the fact that life will not stay the same and changes are bound to take place. Anticipating change instead of fearing them helps us cope with problems better.
4. Keep Hope Alive
Staying hopeful when things are not working in your favor can be difficult, but viewing your problems in a realistic manner rather than being overly dramatic about them can help calm your nerves.
Resilient people have their eyes set over the horizon, they wait patiently for the storm to pass and skies to clear. Remembering that setbacks are temporary and having faith in yourself to rise over obstacles is what makes one resilient. A positive outlook on life no matter the hardships is ultimately going to lead to success.
5. Take Care Of Yourself
Hardships tend to take a toll not only on our minds but also our physical health. Keep in mind that life is full of wonderful possibilities and every cloud has a silver lining. Take care of your body to take care of your mind. Make sure you eat regular meals and follow a healthy diet. Catch up on enough sleep and take out some time to exercise.
6. Focus On The Solution
Instead of worrying yourself sick thinking of the repercussions focus on the possible solutions for your problems. You will find your stress levels go down instantly as you brainstorm solutions. Spend your energy in a positive and creative manner rather than obsessing over how things can go terribly wrong.
7. What Do You Want To Achieve
Keep the end goal in mind as you approach a particular challenge. Some problems can seem too complex and our methods of solving usually lead to dead ends. It is tempting to simply give up and take the easy way out. But resilient people persevere in difficult situations by focusing on what they set out to achieve when dealing with problems.
So ask yourself: What do I want to achieve by solving this problem? How is it hindering me in achieving my purpose? Why is it important to overcome this obstacle?
Setting clear goals for ourselves keeps us motivated. So whenever you feel like throwing in the towel, take some time out to reflect on your goals.
8. Practice Generosity
Even when times are tough practice kindness, generosity, and charity. Helping others generate feelings of well-being. Altruism is a powerful force that can reenergize and revitalize you when you are feeling particularly down.
9. Lean Back On Friends
Having a strong support system can make it so much easier to handle troubling circumstances. Talk to your friends and family. Share your worries and voice your anxieties, just knowing that you will have these people on your back no matter what happens can help you take on any challenge head-on.
10. Hone Your Skills
For resilient people, the struggle does not end when the crisis is over. Instead, they are constantly making an effort to improve their skills, learning from experiences, and growing in the process. Don’t let small setbacks discourage you, keep moving ahead and keep your eyes on the prize.
Turn every opportunity you get to grow and improve. Most importantly prepare for when things go south. Resilient people surrender control and accept that sometimes things will go wrong no matter how hard you try, this is why they almost always have backup plans because they anticipate problems.
Final Words
Here’s the quick recap of 10 ways to develop resilience:
- Let Adversity Be Your Teacher
- Trust Yourself
- Accept Change
- Keep Hope Alive
- Take Care Of Yourself
- Focus On The Solution
- What Do You Want To Achieve
- Practice Generosity
- Lean Back On Friends
- Hone Your Skills
Resilience is a wonderful quality that can help you overcome any obstacle. Resilient people do not shy away from problems but face challenges head-on. They focus on what they can learn no matter the outcome.
