Coping With Life

Resilience or an “adaptive response to hardships” is important because it helps people bounce back easier and sooner from difficult life situations. Resilience is not a magical quality, but a skill that can be developed.

Visualize a balance scale or a seesaw. On one side are protective experiences and adaptive skills and on the other side are hard times and mishaps. When resilience skills are stacked on the positive side they can counter balance even a heavy load of difficult times by getting through the pain and disappointment without a crushed spirit.

Adaptive skills that build resiliency include:

Supportive relationships. When adversity seems overwhelming, supportive relationships can build the ability to cope. Assisting others in their time of need can also benefit the helper.

Keep things in perspective. Stressful events happen, how you interpret and respond to crisis can help you look beyond the present to how future circumstances can be improved.

Acceptance. Change is a part of living and accepting circumstances that cannot be changed can help you focus on the things you can control.

Be hopeful. Optimism enables you to expect that good things will happen in your life and you deserve them.

Self-care. Engage in activities that you enjoy and take care of your mind and body.

After misfortune, resilient people are able to change course and move toward achieving their goals. The key is to identify ways that are likely to work well for you as part of your own personal strategy.

“The oak fought the wind and was broken, the willow bent when it must and survived.”   Robert Jordan