When you face challenges, resilience defines how well you respond. Resilient people tend to keep a positive outlook that helps them deal with crises and recover more quickly from setbacks. While some people are naturally more optimistic and cheerful than others, emotional resilience is a skill anyone can hone by taking steps like these.
1. Setting Boundaries
It’s crucial to establish healthy boundaries with family, friends and co-workers. Among other things, the elements you can define with boundaries include your:
- Time and energy
- Cultural, spiritual or religious values
- Emotional needs
The purpose of having boundaries is not to construct obstacles between yourself and others. Instead, you should think of them as tools that help you better understand and relate to the people you interact with, because they create a set of ground rules for navigating relationships.
2. Becoming More Aware of Your Needs
Resilient people are highly in tune with their physical and mental well-being, and they are not ashamed to ask for help. They understand their typical reaction to stress, and can reset their thoughts as necessary when they realize they’re overreacting or being too negative.
3. Practicing Self-Care
Sometimes, the secret for dealing with adversity is to take a step back and make a strategy for looking after your needs – such as meditating to help you become more present in the moment or finding a therapist you can talk to when you’re struggling to cope with challenging emotions.
4. Having a Good Sense of Humor
Being able to laugh things off can be tremendously valuable, as it shifts your perspective and allows you to let go. Laughing is an excellent stress release valve that increases the endorphins in your brain. It also has long-term benefits like strengthening your immune system and lightening your mood.
5. Being Accepting
Recovering from a shocking, traumatizing or deeply saddening event isn’t something you can do all at once. Instead, you will need to work through these feelings one step at a time. Emotionally resilient people know stress, pain and grief are natural parts of life, and that they have valuable lessons to teach. They accept that healing takes time, and that it’s not healthy to deny feeling sad or angry.
How Can You Become More Resilient?
If you have fallen short in one or more of these areas, you’ll be glad to know that resilience is a skill you can hone. Along the way, you can expect to become a more empathetic, compassionate and self-aware person. When a challenge arises, recognize and own what is happening to you, rather than trying to sweep it under the rug.
You can also strengthen your resilience by being patient. Instead of trying to escape an uncomfortable situation, be thankful for the learning opportunity it presents.
Discover Your Emotional Resilience
If you are looking for ways to improve your well-being, you might benefit from a structured treatment program that provides stability in an unpredictable world. At Canyon Crossing, our women’s-only rehab allows you to walk your unique path to healing. If you are interested in exploring our treatment practices and services, contact us today.
