On Resilience

These days I often catch myself contemplating resilience. I think about it as I observe the variety of responses to the pandemic and the restrictions put in place. Times like these bring out the best and the worst in us.

I watch my reaction as the days begin to blend into each other. I find myself reflecting on my years as a child and a teenager in Greece. Memories of my parents, family members, teachers, and neighbors sharing their experiences during World War II are vivid. The aftermath of the war defined my generation after all.

I grew up at a time of cultural and political upheaval. I watched people persevere through adversity and hardship. My journey as an immigrant has given me a unique perspective on issues.

I tend to draw strength from my past. I believe that as long as I am healthy, I can find my way through. It does not mean that I do not come up against my limitations or that I do not feel anxious or even fearful. I do.

I was talking to one of my daughters a couple of mornings ago. We usually sit down to have a cup of coffee and chat right after her morning conference call. She started to share her increasing anxiety about work. She is coming up against the reality of working miles away from her corporate office under new and unsettling conditions.

We talked about gratitude. “I am truly grateful to have a job and continue working during a time when so many people are losing their jobs,” she said. “But, I don’t like this. I’m not used to this.”

I looked at her and took it all in. She’s young. She’s at the very beginning of her career. She also hasn’t had to face a challenge of this magnitude.

“You need to build resilience,” I replied. “You have a great work ethic. You are smart. Now it is time to go deeper. People build resilience by going through times like this and coming to the other side. You can do this!”

My conversation with Ana got me thinking even more. What is resilience, what traits do resilient people share, and how do we develop the skills and strategies we need?

What is resilience?

Resilience means being able to adapt to life’s misfortunes and setbacks.

When you have resilience, you harness inner strength that helps you rebound from a setback or challenge, such as a job loss, an illness, a disaster, or the death of a loved one. If you lack resilience, you might dwell on problems, feel victimized, become overwhelmed, or turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as substance abuse.

Resilience won’t make your problems go away — but it can give you the ability to see past them, find enjoyment in life, and better handle stress. If you aren’t as resilient as you’d like to be, you can develop skills to become more resilient.

– Mayo Clinic staff

What are some of the traits resilient people exhibit?

• Resilient people are mentally strong.
• They draw on their inner strength and find ways to overcome adversity and extraordinary circumstances.
• They are disciplined.
• They tend to see themselves as fighters and survivors rather than victims.
• They experience stress, anxiety, fear, grief, and pain, but they can function despite these feelings.
• They have strong support systems in place and do not hesitate to ask for help.
• They’re open-minded and know how to adapt.
• They accept the reality of a situation without illusions and find ways to survive and even thrive.
• They embrace change.
• They focus on what they can do rather than setting impossible goals and getting discouraged.

Some people are born to be resilient, but according to experts, we are all capable to learn the skills and coping strategies that can help us become more resilient.

How can we build resilience?

1) Reflect on past experience.

There is not a single person reading this who did not have to face hardship. If you take a moment to sit back, take a deep breath, and reflect, you’ll discover periods in your life when you had to dig deep and call on your inner strength and resources to get through.

There are times when you did not get the outcome you wished for. You may not have gotten the promotion you worked for. You may have had to work hard to pay off a debt. You may have faced illness or the loss of a loved one. You may have lost your job or had to move when you didn’t expect to. You may have experienced the sadness and anguish that followed the breakup of a relationship.

No matter how old you are, there have been times when you experienced disappointment, loss, fear, anxiety, pain, and grief. How did you get through?

Reflect on your experience. What coping skills and strategies did you use to help yourself get through the tough times? Write them down.

2) Be mindful of your thoughts and how you talk to yourself.

“Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t–you’re right.”

– Henry Ford

Our thoughts become our emotions. Our emotions turn into actions. When you feel anxious or fearful, trace back to where it all started. What were your thoughts before you sensed your anxiety escalate? Did you read or hear anything? Was there a thought that crossed your mind? Trace the feeling back to its source.

Once you pinpoint what caused the bout of fear, anxiety, or anger, ask yourself, “Is it true? Do I believe this?” and then continue, “Is there anything I can do to change this? Where do I begin?”

Engaging with ourselves in this manner prevents us from getting stuck in negative emotions. It gives our brain the chance to become solution-oriented rather than problem-focused.

“Care for your psyche…know thyself, for once we know ourselves, we may learn how to care for ourselves.”

– Socrates

3) Practice self-care

When the going gets tough, our first instinct may be to put ourselves on the back burner and focus on taking care of the people who depend on us and everything we have to do.

Managing crises is a marathon. If we want to cross the finishing line, we need to tend to our personal needs and emotional well-being.

During this pandemic, your priority is to stay healthy and strong – both mentally and physically. A healthy body and a strong mind will help you manage your stress and anxiety and accomplish your goals.

• Eat nutritious meals and rest as best as you can.
• Do not neglect exercise and spending time outdoors.
• If you enjoy meditating, sit daily.
• Do activities that take your mind off the crisis and give you a sense of joy and satisfaction.
• Look for inspiration anywhere you can.
• Take a break from the onslaught of news and social media. Maintain a balance between being informed and being sane.
• Find creative ways to stay in touch with your people. Be open about how you’re feeling and what you’re experiencing. Ask for their support when you need it. Be there for them when they need you. There’s joy and empowerment in giving and receiving.
• Focus on what you have and what works.
• Practice gratitude for all there is, here and now.

There are many ways to deal with a crisis. We can pretend it is not happening, we can resist what is happening, or we can keep calm to the best of our ability, dive in, and deal with it.

Most probably, we’ll all go through these stages at one time or another. The important thing is to stay present, keep moving, and do the best we can on any given day. Some days will be better than others. That is normal.

Remember that you are not alone. Be kind to yourself. Believe in yourself. You got this!