To be resilient means having the ability to cope with a stressful or difficult time. Life is full of challenges, some big and some small. People with resilience do not experience less distress, grief or anxiety than other people. Rather, a resilient person uses healthy coping skills, takes advantage of their strengths and resources and asks for help when needed so they can best manage the situation they are facing.
Resilience is something that we can develop and enhance over time.
What is resilience?
Resilience is defined as our ability to recover quickly from day to day difficulties. Resilience allows a person to cope with challenging circumstances and rebound from adversity a stronger and more resourceful person.
Resilience is an ongoing process
While some people may appear to have a greater tendency to resilience than others, it is important to understand that resilience is an ongoing process in life, rather than something you have or don’t have.
Building Resilience
- Maintain a positive and hopeful outlook. Try to visualise what you want and expect that good things will happen in your life, rather than worrying about what you fear.
- Stay connected and maintain good relationships with close family and friends. Ask for and accept help from support networks when you need it.
- Look at how you interpret and respond to stressful events. Become more aware of your mood and identify techniques that will calm and soothe you in stressful situations.
- Nurture a positive view of yourself. Recognise your strengths, trust your instincts and try to develop confidence in your ability to solve problems. Remind yourself of those times you have successfully worked through problems and stressful situations in the past.
- Accept the things you cannot change, this will help you to focus on the things that you can change and work towards changing.
- Take the time to consider a problem and work through it as best as you can, taking decisive actions. Develop realistic and achievable goals and take steps to move towards them.
- Maintain a long-term perspective, consider the stressful event in a broader context and look beyond the present to how future circumstances may be a little better.
Aware's Resilience Series
No matter our background, we all have our own stories and experiences. Our personal journeys shape how we view the world, manage our mental health and develop resilience. Aware spoke to some familiar faces about how they have built resilience through their life experiences. Select an image below to watch their story.
Webinars looking at building resilience and minding our mental health
Developing resilience & coping skills within the context of Covid-19
New Year, New You:
Prioritising our mental health
The Wellness Session:
Living well for body & mind
