GROW THROUGH WHAT YOU GO THROUGH

RESILIENCE definition:

  1.  the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness.
  2.  the ability of a substance or object to spring back into shape; elasticity.

I have been thinking a great deal about resilience lately.  2020 has been a year for the books and I think most would agree not in a good way. We’ve had numerous challenges and difficulties ranging from COVID 19, increased social justice unrest, heart breaking destruction in parts of our country due to fire and hurricanes and a presidential election that has shed a spotlight on how divided our country is.  

In my own small corner of the world, I have added knee replacement surgery. I have witnessed the resiliency of the human body to heal physically and mentally and become stronger on the other side.  I hope and believe as a country and a planet we have the capacity to do the same.  

What I have learned about resiliency:

Education – Part of being resilient is to understand what we are facing. In a study completed by the ADP Research Institute found that knowing the reality of our situation the more resilient we become. 

Take the time to understand what has happened and what you need to do to overcome a situation or improve it.  What new behaviors and actions are necessary to achieve, reinforce and maintain your “recovery”.

Do the Work – Recovery from knee replacement surgery does not come without a lot of consistent and many times painful exercise.  We need to be committed to “doing the work” as individuals and as a group to overcome the virus, change practices and behaviors that perpetuate racism and unite a divided country.  It will not be easy and it will be painful at times.

Patience – Progress doesn’t happen overnight.  It takes time for change to take effect.  Give yourself and others the time, space and grace to move forward.  Don’t forget to celebrate the small milestones along the way to the ultimate goal. Recognizing the progress, no matter how small motivates us to move forward.

Positive Relationships  – Develop relationships that help you feel supported and connected.  Being resilient doesn’t mean never having a difficult day.  Positive relationships help us buffer stressful or disappointment experiences, provide feedback on how to view life experiences and offer encouragement and reassurance.

Self-Care – Exercise, eating healthy and the right amount of sleep are all important.  Let’s not forget our mental self-care. Spend time with friends and family, laugh often, meditate, look for inspiration and practice gratitude.

2020 has presented some difficult challenges to all of us.  While I believe 2021 will be better, there will always be challenges in our lives.  We can’t avoid them all.   Knowing how tap into our resilience will help us successfully move through and grow through what we go through.


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