Let us not be surprised when we have to face difficulties. When the wind blows hard on the tree, the roots stretch and grow the Stronger, let it be so with us. Let us not be weaklings, yielding to every wind that blows, but strong in spirit to resist.”-Amy Carmichael
The unfortunate events may keep disrupting lives now and then but what do you do next? Just stay there or keep moving, keep repairing and bouncing back.
Let’s talk of the current time, the situation has been scary and unprecedented and if you are not feeling a range of emotions, you may be ignoring or not paying attention to yourself. People are going through uncertainty, fear, and stress due to Covid-19 as it is life-threatening, businesses are making losses at an alarming rate which is increasing the anxiety of losing one’s job.
If anyone currently is not feeling anxious, stressed, or uncertain may not have really been paying attention to their feelings. We as humans are a bag of emotions and when we are challenged, we undergo mixed feelings, difficult emotions which signal us about what we need. Tough times and failures are part of our life and if anyone thinks we can pass through corona without discomfort, that’s not possible. Discomfort is the price we pay to have a meaningful life and so we embrace tough times and be more Resilient.
Digressing or ignoring may not help and may become the block to your resilience power. Resilient people immediately look at the problem and say,” what’s the way forward or a solution to that? What is this trying to teach me? How do I stand back and move forward?” Resilience allows some people to be knocked down by the adversities of life and come back at least as strong as before.The word Resilience is used commonly in our life without knowing the real meaning of being Resilient.
Psychologists define resilience as the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy or in times of stress. As much as resilience involves "bouncing back" from these difficult experiences, it can also involve profound personal growth. Resilience is all about accepting and picking up your pieces and making an art out of it. While these adverse events, much like rough river waters, are certainly painful and difficult, they don’t have to determine the outcome of your life. There are many aspects of your life you can control, modify, and grow with. That’s the role of resilience. Becoming more resilient not only helps you get through difficult circumstances; it also empowers you to grow and even improve your life along the way.
Being resilient not at all promise you or anyone that you may not go through adversities, anxiety, stress, challenges but it empowers you to overcome like a deep diver who swims deep inside the ocean and is able to find his/her way to the ground. It’s natural for people who have suffered major adversity or setback to emotional pain and stress. In fact, the road to resilience is likely to involve considerable emotional distress.
While some individuals are more resilient than others, resilience isn’t necessarily a personality trait that only some people possess. On the contrary, resilience involves behaviors, thoughts, and actions that anyone can learn and develop. You may be born naturally with Muscles of Resilience, or you may have to build and draw on it and, in the process, you may become the shiner and better version of yourself. Like building a muscle, increasing your resilience takes time and intentionality. Keep flexing your muscles.
Lessons of hope, strength, and light within each one of us will never extinguish. There may be deep fog of grief inside you but still outside will be the hope of keep moving. Sometimes life may hit you to the bottom, and you feel stuck for life, but you have to breathe again and find your surface to refuel yourself by seeing greatness, love around, and counting your blessings. There is one saying” Whenever you feel anxious interrupt with Gratitude” and I passionately believe in this.
Whenever you are amidst the crisis, remind yourself your ability to grow and learn from it.
Remember, life never gets easier or forgiving, we only get stronger and RESILIENT.
About Author – Nida Khanam is a practicing Professional ACC-ICF & Brain based Certified Coach in the areas of Executive, Mindset & Career. She is also on board of HR advisory & a Speaker on different platforms. She is an IIMC & AMU alumnus who has worked into HR Leadership& transformational roles for diversified organizations like Rockwell Automation, Grohe-Lixil & JSL to name a few. Besides being a coach, speaker, and Advisor, she is an Entrepreneur too.]
