Building Resilience

Life happens. Even in non-pandemic times, we face difficulties, and change of any kind can throw even the most adaptable of us. But this is different. Added to our usual life events, the changes required by the global pandemic have added a WOW factor that has shaken us all. I'm not sure about you, but I've discovered I need to be a bit more resilient.

The American Psychological Association defines resilience as "the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, tragedy, or significant sources of stress." Easier said than done, right? Here are some easy things we all can do:

• Have a strong support network of positive people who you can turn to for help -- even if it's just to listen to you on a Zoom call.

• Set life goals, then reward yourself when you reach them. Personal goal achievement builds self-confidence, which in turn builds resilience.

• Take care of yourself. When we're feeling stressed, many of us don't eat right or exercise. Do your best to keep your body strong, and don't overlook your mental health. Consider meditation, yoga, mindfulness, or prayer to keep centered.

• Do something for someone else. Not only will you be helping someone in need, you should get satisfaction from the experience, which will boost your overall well-being. 

• Look for ways to inject humor into your routine. Laughing is so good for us. It enhances oxygen intake, stimulating your heart, lungs and muscles, increases endorphins, cools down your stress response, and aids muscle relaxation. So remind yourself that enjoying a good chuckle can brighten your mood and help you deal with your challenges just a little better.

• Keep things in perspective and focus on the future as much as you can. Remember times when you faced a difficult situation and came through it.

First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, who faced a lot of adversity and exhibited tremendous resiliency, said, "You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, I lived through this horror, I can take the next thing that comes along."

And so can you.