Dealing with difficult events in our lives can seem overwhelming. When we think about the death of a loved one, the loss of a job, or the end of a relationship it can be hard to imagine how we’d ever deal with that kind of thing without falling apart. For many people, life-changing events like these may be met with extreme distress; but if you’ve ever experienced any one of these events, you may know that those feelings usually don’t last forever. Have you ever wondered what accounts for the gradual ability to be able to move past some really horrible things? There are certainly individual factors at play, but one thing that may account for this is resilience. Resilience can be defined as the ability to recover from difficulties. Generally speaking, humans naturally display resilience, but if you find yourself struggling to recover after an emotionally trying time or the occurrence of a traumatic event, don’t fret. Resilience is something that everyone can develop. And if you feel like you lack this useful ability, there are behaviors, thoughts and actions that can be learned and developed to help you become a more resilient person.
One of the biggest factors in relation to resilience is having strong relationships, so making connections with others and fostering long-lasting relationships is something that will go a long way. Some other things that may help build this quality include viewing change as a natural part of life, remaining hopeful about things to come and working on knowing yourself better and developing a positive view and opinion of yourself. Prioritizing self-care, especially in the midst of a tough time, may also be helpful.
Working to build these qualities in yourself can help with your ability to positively handle anything life throws at you. And if you still feel you need help or support, a mental health professional may be a good resource.
