Life does not always (read: most of the time) go as planned. Everyone faces hardships – be it a career failure, breakup, or a health scare. It is resilience that enables us to rise again, stronger than before. You cannot always control your first reaction, but you can develop resilience to recover and navigate obstacles more quickly. Think of how a willow tree bends in a storm, but does not break. Resilience is the inner strength that can help you bounce back, no matter how low life falls. The good news is that resilience is a skill just like soft skills and anyone can develop it with practice and the right support. In this blog, we tell you the 8 best strategies to build resilience and stay positive.
8 Ways to Learn to Be More Resilient
Learning how to build resilience is important because it is the only way you can brace yourself for the lemons life throws at you. You cannot stop the lemons but the least you can do is learn how to make a lemon tart. The best you can do (what is in your hands) is to prepare a mindset that can help you bounce back from them. Here are 8 practical ways to build resilience and prepare yourself for the worst days:
Practice Acceptance
In tough times, it is normal to feel frustration, disappointment, or anxiety about the future. These are normal emotions that make you human. Rather than pushing away difficult feelings, try mindfulness to embrace what is happening. Notice your thoughts and emotions without trying to change or judge them. Focus on physical sensations (like a clenched jaw or tight shoulders) and acknowledging these signs without judgment to help you accept the situation and eventually get over it. The process of developing resilience might be a long one but practice will eventually take you there.
Focus on What You Can Control
It is easy to feel lost when you believe things are out of your control. However, honing in on the things you can influence can grant you a sense of direction.
“Adversity can make you question your ability to change your situation,” explains Dr. Grasso. For example, a negative performance review might lead you to think that your efforts don’t matter. But such worries can be misleading and paralyzing.
Building resilience means changing your perspective. Instead of seeing setbacks as final, view them as chances to learn and grow. For instance, a poor review can be an opportunity for reflection and improvement, rather than a sign of inevitable failure.
Stay Optimistic
Mindset plays a huge role in building the skill of resilience. Optimistic are not those who ignore their reality but those who know how to interpret events and still choose to look on the brighter side. Positive psychology experts often describe optimism with the “three Ps”:
- Personalization: Recognize that your contributions matter and understand that setbacks are influenced by many factors (some of which are not in your control).
- Pervasiveness: Try to isolate setbacks to specific areas of life (that actually need attention) rather than letting them define your entire identity.
- Permanence: See challenges as temporary hurdles, not unchangeable barriers. Keep faith in yourself that you have what it takes to fight back.
Connect with Others
Developing the skill of resilience is not a solo journey. Your relationships with friends, family, and coworkers will play a big role in offering the necessary support when tough times hit. True connection is about more than just being surrounded by others. You must find a supportive circle that can help you validate your experiences, shift your perspective, and boost your spirits.
Set New Goals
Resilience often comes from pursuing fresh goals. This could mean learning a new skill, exploring an entirely different career path, starting to date again, or rekindling a neglected passion. Engaging with a goal can help you realign with your values and inspire forward momentum. It can take away the imposter in your head that says “You are destined to fail.”
Self Care
When you are looking for ways to develop resilience, self-care is something you cannot neglect. It is vital for managing stress, lifting your mood, and being in positive spirits. Prioritising things like rest, healthy habits, and activities you enjoy ensures that when challenges arise, you are not running on an empty battery.
Build Problem-Solving Skills
Problem-solving skills allow you to face challenges with confidence instead of feeling stuck. Breaking down complex issues into smaller steps or seeking new perspectives are examples of this. Working with a coach or therapist can help refine these skills, making them key strategies to build resilience.
Seek Professional Support
Sometimes, professional help is essential to learn how to build resilience. Resilience doesn’t mean handling everything alone. Therapists can help you navigate tough thoughts and emotions and guide you in shaping a life driven by your values rather than your struggles.
How to Stay Positive
Pessimism is a protective mechanism that the mind develops over time – meaning it is a result of habitual thinking. Similarly, optimism is also a habit that anyone can learn and strengthen over time. If you are looking for practical ways to stay positive and motivated, these are the 5 ultimate tips you will ever need:
Engage in Positive Self-Talk
Positive thinking starts with self-talk – the same internal dialogue that asks you to think negatively (to prepare for the worst). How to shift from negative to positive thinking? Apply this simple rule: do not say anything to yourself that you would not say to a friend. Be as kind and encouraging with yourself as you would with someone you deeply care about.
Practice Gratitude
Gratitude is an effective (yet simple) way to flush your mind with happy thoughts. Hence, this one definitely deserves its own space in the list of ways to stay positive. It is easy to fixate on all the bad things in your life. But remember all that you are protected from, and be grateful for all that you have that many don’t have. Every day before going to bed or after waking up, keep a habit of writing in a gratitude journal. Even simple things count like – “Thank you that my loved ones are healthy,” “Thank you that I am healthy,” and “Thank you for the delicious cup of coffee this morning” A habit of reflecting on the positives will automatically flush out all the negatives from the mind.
Pick Your People Carefully
Your circle usually has the biggest impact on your habitual thoughts. Consciously cut out the pessimistic ones. Spend more time with optimistic people who encourage you to see the brighter side of things.
Practice Mindfulness
Mindfulness helps you stay grounded in the present. It fosters awareness without judgment. It can help reduce stress and help you stay positive and motivated. Even a few minutes of deep breathing or guided meditation each day can improve mental clarity to a lot of extent.
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Conclusion
If you naturally lean toward negativity, don’t expect a complete shift to optimism overnight. It takes time, but with consistent practice, your inner dialogue will eventually get positive. Your tendencies will eventually fall into place, you will become less critical and more compassionate toward yourself. This blog highlighted the different ways you can stay positive, build resilience, and brace yourself for the future.
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