Make time to build Resilience and reap the rewards

Resilience is a word we often hear at the moment, and at difficult times such as this, it can feel as though it is in short supply. It is possible to build your resilience though, to ensure you are better equipped to cope better with life’s ups and downs, or ‘ride the rapids’ as I like to say.

I often meet clients who feel so overwhelmed by life’s challenges they are unable to invest time and energy into building their resilience, much as they might realise they need to. It seems a Herculean effort is required, and they just don’t have the energy for it. It’s just another thing to add to the ever-growing to-do list in an already hectic and demanding world. I always encourage these clients to fully understand the benefits of being more resilient, as once they understand, they see that building resilience, rather than adding to their overwhelm, is the key to tackling it.

When overwhelmed, the simplest tasks can feel Herculean. Photo credit Meor Mohamad Unsplash

If you feel your resilience reservoir is running dry, and you need to fill it up again, considering each aspect of the resilience wheel is a good place to start. In tandem with this, consider the list below and ask yourself which of these represent your own negative pain points? And what positive outcomes would you want for yourself? It really is worth investing the time to do this, as it can improve so many aspects of your work and personal life. Here’s a list of some of the most common aspects people need support with.

Overwhelm

If you feel an overall sense of overwhelm, developing your resilience can help you shift this mindset to feeling calmer and more in command of your situation. When you feel like you are wading through treacle, resilience can help you make headway and move forward with greater energy and purpose.

Difficulty making decisions

Working on resilience can give you greater clarity, and an improved ability to think through a problem to see the various ways of tackling it, and the pros and cons of each.

Stagnation of ideas

If you feel you have run dry of ideas, developing your resilience can increase your ability to innovate, see connections, and be open to new ways of thinking creatively.

Negative mindset

If all you can see are problems and reasons not to do things, resilience can increase your capacity to think positively, see situations as opportunities, and recognise the options and choices available.

Unable to ask for help

A sense of overwhelm can feel like a trap, which is difficult to get out of. If you are feeling unable to ask for help, or don’t know where to turn, building resilience can help you to feel more comfortable and know what to ask from whom.

Lack of energy

Resilience can help you have an increased awareness of energy levels, what boosts them and what drains them? Understanding this can help you regain a sense of balance.

Relationships strained

Whether at work or home, strained personal relationships can be extremely draining and upsetting. Improving resilience can help you have greater empathy, as well as a desire and ability to value others and spend quality time with them.

Lack of direction

It can sometimes feel like our own inner compass is broken. Taking time to develop your resilience can help you re-set the compass for a renewed sense of direction and purpose.

No time for hobbies

Making time for fun is essential, but it can be easier said than done. Finding time for things you enjoy doing is essential to re-energise you. Resilient people understand this and ensure they build some R&R time into their busy schedules.

Lack of confidence

Working on resilience helps you understand and focus on your strengths and maximise these areas. This helps you to perform well, and gives you a sense of confidence and capability.

Repeating the same mistakes

Sometimes it can feel like we are stuck in a negative pattern of behaviour, trapped by an inability to change, and therefore repeating the same mistakes. Resilience can help us become more agile, build the ability to adapt behaviour, ditch bad habits, and respond positively to changes in our environment.

There are so many benefits to building resilience - too many to list here - I may need to write a further blog about it! If any of the above resonates with you, and you would like to find the time to work on your own resilience, why not get in touch?

When are you going to start and which reward do you want most? Photo credit Blake Meyer Unsplash