Resiliency is the ability to cope and adapt when faced with adversity. When people who are resilient are faced with adversity or dire circumstances, they maintain their composure, have the psychological strength to deal with stress, and the skillsets required to cope and recover. Another phrase you may have heard is that someone “bounces back”. Those without resiliency become overly emotional, lose their composure, and have difficulty functioning. Those individuals who are not resilient often times portray themselves as the victim since they see events unfolding which conspire against them and feel powerless to do anything.
As with anything else, resiliency is a learned behavior and comprises a number of factors. If someone is cognizant of their shortcomings there is a process and actions which can be taken which will cultivate resiliency. This does not mean you will not experience the associated emotional pain or grief which accompany such events, but it does mean you will be able to navigate through the storm and eventually reach calmer seas. To do this keep the following points in mind during your travail.
Manage Your Expectations – Don’t set yourself up by expecting things to always go smoothly. Be an optimist, but also be a realist. Understand that setbacks happen and sometimes things don’t go the way you had hoped they would or had planned.
Positive Mindset – Maintain your composure. Do not view yourself as a victim of circumstances or view this as an insurmountable problem. Do not further exacerbate things by blowing this out of proportion in your mind. Focus on the issues at hand exhibiting a can-do attitude, vowing to find a way or make one.
Maintain Perspective – Consider the situation in the proper context. Understand this is a short-term issue that in the longer term will be valuable learning experience. Focus on past experiences where you have successfully overcome similar issues, drawing strength from the fact that you responded effectively then, and will do so now.
Take Action – Do not sit there and wait for something to happen, make something happen. Do not avoid the issue, it won’t go away by trying to manage it. Confront the issue head on and take decisive action.
Rely on Your Network – Relying on your relationships, either personal or professional, will help you weather the occurrence. Just as a cohesive military unit is stronger, taking strength from each other, you should do the same.