Summary

Resilient individuals employ specific strategies to overcome adversity and thrive, emphasizing continuous learning, proactive behavior, a strong sense of purpose, adaptability, reflection, relationship building, self-identity beyond work, stress management, wisdom acquisition, and acceptance of change.

Abstract

The article outlines the behaviors and mindsets that contribute to a person's resilience in the face of life's challenges. It emphasizes that resilient people are not born but developed through continuous learning, taking charge of their personal and professional growth, and having a clear sense of purpose. They are skilled at reframing their abilities, reflecting on experiences for personal growth, cultivating supportive relationships, maintaining a self-identity beyond their job, managing stress effectively, gaining wisdom through daily efforts, and embracing change as an opportunity for growth. These individuals are characterized by their flexibility, strength, and efficiency, understanding that overcoming hardships ultimately leads to greater success and personal fulfillment.

Opinions

Resilient people view challenges as opportunities for growth and learning, believing that adversity ultimately strengthens them.
They prioritize continuous learning and skill development, asking insightful questions to deepen their understanding of the world.
Taking ownership of their careers, resilient individuals seek mentorship and later become mentors themselves, understanding the importance of personal branding.
A sense of purpose is crucial for resilient people, as it provides a framework for overcoming setbacks and living life on their own terms.
They are adept at adapting their skills and mindset to changing circumstances, such as shifting to blogging and social media after a job loss.
Reflection is valued as it fosters learning, provides new perspectives, and contributes to a positive mindset, which is essential for coping with challenges.
Building and maintaining a broad network of relationships is important for resilient individuals, who strive to be empathetic, honest, and reliable communicators.
Having an identity beyond one's job is seen as vital for resilience, allowing

How to Become More Resilient

10 things resilient people do to overcome life’s setbacks

Resilient people are flexible, strong, tough, capable, and efficient. They understand the benefits of overcoming adversity and life’s setbacks. Resilient people know that hard times ultimately makes them stronger, tougher, and more successful.

In other words, the phrase: what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger. The wisest and most well-rounded people you meet are resilient.

Resilient is defined in the Merriam Webster dictionary as “capable of withstanding shock without permanent deformation or rupture and recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change.”

What do resilient people do well to handle life’s daily challenges? Let’s dive into the top 10 things they do successfully.

1. They are continuous learners

Continuous learning is the process of learning new skills and knowledge. Resilient people constantly gain a new understanding of the world. They apply their understanding in times of change. They ask smart questions to get to the root of issues. They are always looking to expand their ability. It’s a cornerstone of who they are.

2. They take charge

They take charge of their career and development. Resilient people know that great careers don’t happen by accident and overnight. They give back and pay it forward. They seek out mentors and become a mentor later in their career. Strong people ask for what they want and say “yes and” to opportunities. They know their personal brand is critical to success.

3. They have a sense of purpose

Resilient people have a sense of purpose because they know it will help them address setbacks under the framework of a broader perspective. They know living an extraordinary life is living life on their own terms. To live an extraordinary life, there are two skills to master: the science of achievement and the art of fulfillment.

4. They shift their skills and thinking

Resilient people re-frame how they see their skills, talents, and interests. They are able to look at a situation and find the good. They adapt their skills and their talents. For example, when I got laid off, I shifted toward blogging and social media. Unpleasant things happen in life and they can be a good thing — even though, at the time, they may not seem like it. Blessings are sometimes good things in disguise. Only years later do we realize it was a good thing.

5. They reflect

Reflection fosters learning, new perspective, and self-awareness. Reflection helps us plan and provides powerful insights into our mindset. It gives the brain an opportunity to pause, sort through observations and experiences, and create meaning. This meaning helps learning and informs a future mindset and actions. Resilient people know that a positive mindset impacts how one responds to mistakes and deals with bad situations, playing a critical role in coping and overcoming life’s challenges.

6. They cultivate relationships

Adaptable people develop and nurture a broad network of personal and professional relationships. They stay true to who they are. They are open and honest. They practice empathy for other people. They know that timely communication is important, so they are dependable and consistent. They are active on LinkedIn and know it’s important to be top of mind awareness with their professional network. They also know their neighbors and attend networking events to meet other people in their industry.

7. They pay attention to their self-identity

It’s important to have an identity beyond the day job. For example, “I’m a corporate man by day and entrepreneur by night.” This means that I have some side hustles such as my Knowledge Enthusiast blog and writing here on Medium. Resilient people know they are more than where they work during the day.

8. They manage stress well

Resilient people know how to manage their stress because they know that less stress equals more success. As a human species, we are built to respond to stress so we can survive life-threatening situations. When you become a stress management guru, you avoid burnout, lower your chances of illness, and boost your productivity. It can also give us a better sense of calm and control and improve our relationships. Our stress is omnipresent. We have to work hard to turn it off.

9. They become wiser every day

Strong people know how to approach situations and daily setbacks. They know what they do every day substantially increases mental horsepower. A little bit of effort goes a long way. Becoming smarter doesn’t involve a huge time commitment. It starts by how to feed the brain. The key is to train the brain to adapt to new perspectives, situations, and information.

10. They accept change

Accepting change is finding a way to move on and look to the future while living with the past. Adaptable people find ways to become comfortable with constant change. They become comfortable being uncomfortable. They know the only way to grow is to move beyond the current status quo.

Bringing it all together

Resilient people maintain control of situations. They think of new ways to tackle problems that they face. They understand that life is full of challenges and they are built to handle them. Resilient people are confident, self-aware, and cope well with a changing landscape. They have strong character, positive relationships, and have a life purpose.

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