We are at the end of another month – hard to believe how time is going quickly. I hope that the new year is treating you well, and that you are taking advantage of any and all opportunities that come your way. You may have to look for them or be open to receiving them; we can sometimes put a ‘blind eye’ to situations that seem scary.
With so many changes taking place these days, things can seem scary. But, it’s how you choose to look at them that will stop the fear from change that may be holding you back, whether that is emotionally or due to some other circumstance (finances, other people, laws, etc.). How do you push through and find your resolve – the strength and mindset to take action, despite any doubt or fear. This builds resiliency, or the ability to get back up and adapt to setbacks or life changes. Stuff will happen but not allowing them to stop you is what is needed.
If you have ever faced a challenge that you said, “I can’t do this or make it through” but you are still standing today, you have built your resilience. The important key is to go back and review how you made it through when you thought you wouldn’t’ – how did you solve the problem; did you worry about time, finances, legalities, and the like; did you lean on other people or resources for help. I think most people don’t really look at their hard – or traumatic – circumstance to see that they have survived and made it through.
Resolve is relying on your skills and abilities to determine how you will overcome any challenge while resiliency keeps you going. It’s a mindset that you will not be stopped until the desired outcome is reached; this helps you face the next challenge and the next. You will have the ability to think more clearly, to feel in control, and have good coping strategies that can help you emotionally. You will see the strong person you are, who can push through and survive any challenge or adverse situation you come across.
See yourself as the strong person and rely on your abilities; see setbacks as challenges rather than barriers; reframe negative thinking to more positive ones; use self-talk to uplift and motivate you (“you/I can do this…”); develop your ‘toolbox’ of coping strategies so you have them when needed, and use them often so they become good habits; praise and appreciate yourself for making it through. These help to develop and affirm your resolve so you remain resilient. Know that you are in control and not the other way around.
The key to life is resilience…We will always be knocked down.
It’s the getting up that counts. (Dominique Browning)
