01 Jan Ride out the rough times and make the most of life with resilience
One thing you can be sure of in life is that it isn’t always going to be straightforward and when curveballs are thrown your way (perhaps repeatedly if we’re looking at 2020-21) then you need a coping mechanism – in short you need resilience.
You may think you need a lucky break when it comes to studying, a bit more money, extra work or a job opportunity, or more time but very often all you need is a resilient approach.
Really, resilience is a form of toughness that lets you take the rough with the smooth, gives you the capacity to ride through life’s bumps and detours and set yourself back on track to where you want to be.
“Life doesn’t get easier or more forgiving, we get stronger and more resilient.” Steve Maraboli
Accept what you can – and can’t – control
So, what exactly is resilience? Rather than think you have to shrug off upsets, if you build your reliance you will be able to accept problems for what they are – accept what you cannot control and take back control of what you can.
When times are tough (and unpredictable) we need to find the best way forward for ourselves – and with the events of the past year that is more important than ever. We need to be able to thrive, not just survive, in difficult situations.
Our lives have been restricted in ways that we never could have imagined just a year ago, which can be hard to take. Yet many people see opportunities in these times when we are being asked to stay at home.
While essentially resilience is displaying a bit of inner grit, it is so much more than that and is simple to build up, so don’t worry if you’re concerned you might not be tough enough, there are ways that you can learn to adapt!
“It’s your reaction to adversity, not adversity itself that determines how your life’s story will develop.” Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Learn to build your resilience
Coping isn’t about staring a problem down, it is about finding another way, unlocking positivity, seeking support, finding a way to break away from stress and accepting what is out of your control.
Rather than letting testing times break you, bend with them by searching for the positives or finding a good way to cope.
When you feel overwhelmed by the shifting goalposts of the pandemic build your resilience by:
- Turning to friends and family for support
- Identifying what you can control and accepting what you can’t control
- Finding a way to shut off and destress – running, listening to music, art, etc
- Rethink the situation and change ‘problems’ to ‘challenges’ that you can tackle or work around
Yes, it is easier said than done to dust yourself off and get back up again, but if you can find the positives in life you will know there is a better day waiting just around the corner.
“Enthusiasm is common. Endurance is rare.” Angela Duckworth
Dates for your diary this January
Every month, we check out what’s relevant in the coming days to help people to grow within themselves and take on positive learnings from special days or remembering events from the past. Here’s what to look out for this month.
Creativity Month
What better way to pass the hours at home this January than by embracing your creative side?
Creativity Month encourages us to give creativity a go and recall our childhood love of doing things our way. So, get drawing, make a film or just approach your work with a creative new approach. Being creative is a great way to fell fulfilled and calmer so go for it.
13 January, Make Your Dream Come True Day
Do you have unfulfilled dreams? Have you let your dreams vanish in a haze of doubt? 13 January is the day to reclaim your dreams, face down your inner doubter and work out just what it would take to achieve your dream.
Start planning today and your dream may just become a reality, whether it is to travel the world, start your own business or learn to surf. One step at a time and you can get there.
22 January, Celebration of Life Day
This is the day to celebrate the gift of living through the joy of childhood so if you have a younger sibling or a child lavish them with love and attention. Make time to play a game or go to the park and make the most out of life, sharing precious moments with those you love.
Teenagers though this day is also yours, so remind your family to teach you something new or just do something nice!
“Resilience is accepting your new reality, even if it’s less good than the one you had before. You can fight it, you can do nothing but scream about what you’ve lost, or you can accept that and try to put together something that’s good.” Elizabeth Edwards
Choose the life you want to lead
For guidance and tips on how to develop a resilient mindset and positive outlook, my book The Spark to Your Success breaks down what steps you (or your child) need to take into bite-sized chunks to start to find the joy in life to let them enjoy it to its fullest.
Also, let our community know how you are launching into 2021 by sharing your thoughts, experiences and goals.
Until next time, be creative this month, make the most of life by celebrating it and working towards making your dream come true.
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