Resilience is the ability to “bounce back” from stressful or challenging experiences. It involves being able to adapt to changes and approach negative events, sources of stress and traumatic events as constructively as possible.
Being resilient doesn’t mean that a person doesn’t experience difficult life events, but rather that they are better able to cope with them when they do occur. Often resilience is built through the experience of difficult life events. It is not necessarily a fixed trait, but something all people have the potential to develop.
Developing a greater level of resilience won’t stop negative or stressful things from occurring, however it can reduce the level of disruption a stressor has on the individual and the time it takes for them to recover from it. Below are 10 ways to build resilience:
- Have the courage to be imperfect
- Take time for yourself
- Sign up for that course, join that club
- Be active every day in as many ways as you can
- Spend time with people who make you feel good
- Laugh out loud each day
- Invite your neighbour over for a cup of tea
- Do one thing now that you’ve been putting off
- Focus more on things you can control
- Remember, this too shall pass
