Tapping into your Resilience

In practicing Positive Psychology, one major aspect in seeing change is to utilize our resilience for change.

Resilience is defined as your ability to face life’s difficulties and to overcome them.

It’s normal to feel defeated and to succumb to life’s challenges- we’re human. However, it’s your resilience that helps you re-focus, re-prioritize, and gets you back into your A-game. Resilience is what keeps you going. Here are a few tips to help you build your resilience in times of great difficulty.

Remember your strengths- When we are down in the dumps, we tend to only focus on the negative. We remember all that is wrong in our lives, wait for the worst to occur, and ruminate about every negative event that we have encountered. How can you expect to move forward if you’re setting up such a negative tone in your mindset? Remind yourself of your strengths. Put more emphasis in your abilities, values, and skills. Know that you are above this and that you can channel your inner strengths to empower yourself. Use that empowerment in problem-solving and get yourself out of this misery.

Reframe your perspective- For every negative outlook, there is a positive. Try to find the lesson in this situation. Perhaps this is a learning opportunity that you can use to improve yourself. If you’re getting over a break-up, instead of focusing on how you miss your ex, think about how better off you are without him or her. Let’s say you’ve got a bad mark on your midterm, use this as an opportunity to question your studying habit and style.

Have a role model- Your role models didn’t become role models overnight. They had to work their way there. They too have gone through their fair share of adversities, but, just like you, they’re resilient. Remember that they didn’t give up and neither should you, because,

Hey, Beyonce wasn’t built in a day.

Use a Mantra- Mantras are great, quick reminders to keep you going. Recite your mantra in times of self-doubt, emotional pain, or when you’re ready to throw in the towel. Mantras such as, “I can get through this” or “you got this” are simple, short phrases to remind you that you are bigger than this

Praise yourself- Admire at how far you have come along. It took a lot of courage to be where you are right now. Look back at your journey and think about all that you have done to accomplish this much. Take pride in what you have done and own it. Just like how you were able to get through obstacles in the past, you are capable of conquering yet another hurdle.

Challenges can definitely get to the best of us. But, if we're able to roll up our sleeves and own these challenges, you may find yourself surprised with just how much you can accomplish with a touch of resilience.