6 Ways Resilience Can Improve Business and Success
Scientists share findings on resiliency, mental strength and success
I hold the word resiliency like a wild card. If something goes wrong in life I fall back on the comfort of this word. Resiliency is a safety net that we use to accept disappointment. It is a word that we as parents use to console our children when nothing else works. This one word has helped me through difficult times because I knew it would build strength and resistance for more difficult times in the future.
Resilience is a coping mechanism that helps us adapt to a negative situation. This is a necessary skill used by successful people to handle the stressors thrown their way.
1. Live With Purpose
Forbes Magazine’s article ‘Live With Purpose, How to Find Your North Star’ suggests finding something positive with the work you are doing today. Having a purpose to get up in the morning, or to work towards will lead to stronger resilience. Knowing we have goals to achieve or personally selected goals provides a certain form of comfort. We have a goal to occupy our thoughts and a goal to accomplish. The sole determination of setting this goal sets the foundation for resilience. We are actively planning and it’s the planning part that creates resiliency to help us take control of our lives.
It makes us stronger in the long run.
2. Response vs. Reaction
This is one valuable lesson I will never forget. While I was going through a particularly difficult I was reminded of the difference between responding and reacting. Learning to respond rather than react will result in less stress, more control over our emotions, a quicker resolution to the problem and it provides an excellent tool in resiliency. Richard B. Joelson DSW, LCSW highlights an interesting concept whereas a reaction is generally immediate and “emotionally charged” and in contrast, a response is generally thought out and considered beforehand.
3. Accepting Change
Life is fluid. Knowing this prepares us for difficult times ahead. John, M. Grohol, PsyD Founder & Editor-in-Chief of PsychCentral explains how “change is a natural progression of life”. Grohol also adds not to fight against change as it will ultimately weaken resiliency.
4. Social Connections
Close ties to family, friends, members of a club or even an online support group can greatly help. Free therapy can never hurt!
Daniel P. Aldrich; Director of the Security and Resilience Studies program at Northeastern University directs his focus towards the importance of building a strong “social infrastructure” to combat trauma and increase resilience. Aldrich’s research has discovered evacuees from the Fukushima nuclear power meltdowns found more solace from social networks such as neighbours, friends and families during the evacuation than factors such as health and livelihoods. Aldrich further points out that even social media has developed outlets for those affected by such tragedy.
5. Healthy Lifestyle
An important step to resiliency is to be healthy, eat well, drink plenty of water and exercise. Things always seem more clear after a brisk walk or exercise routine. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle fights depression, and therefore awards us the instruments to tackle problems in a healthier way. This all leads to improved resilience.
6. See Failure as a Learning Tool
Forbes magazine highlights how individuals with a high level of resilience accept failure and allow failure to help them move forward. Amy Morin explains how resilient people use failure “as an opportunity to sharpen their skills and become better”.
Imagine a lifestyle in which you never feel like a loser? We can use this tool to protect ourselves from ourselves.
Building resilience can help safeguard us from those expected stressful situations. Practicing it can ward off mental illness or health issues and can be one of the most important traits in our lives.
Resiliency is no doubt the key ingredient to living a more successful and positive life, it’s the tool that will keep us strong when life happens!
More articles by Kathy Lum, you can also find me at ‘Lifestyle By Design’!