Resilience

RESILIENCE…The Definition

‘The ability to be happy or successful again after something difficult or bad has happened. The quality of being able to return quickly to a previously good condition after problems.’

Difficult times test our level of resilience.

When we approach resilience from a biblical worldview, we understand that God desires for his children to thrive and live out their purpose even in the midst of trouble.

As believer’s in Jesus, we’re called to be “overcomers”.

THIS takes resilience.

Resilience is proven over time and ultimately infuses our lives with purpose and meaning.

According to Hebrews Chapter 11, THIS is what a life of faith is all about.

RISKING DEFEAT WITHOUT RESILIENCE

Resilience isn’t a fixed trait. We need to work on it.

Did you know that we actually risk defeat in our lives when we fail to recognize our need to develop resilience skills and put them to use? 

Being flexible, adaptable, and learning to persevere can help us tap into our resilience by changing certain thoughts we are thinking.

Believe it or not, resiliency is a muscle we can strengthen when we take advantage of additional support, resources, and most of all, living out our true identity. 

Do you have any of the below resiliency skills? I think you do!

Gratitude

Compassion

Acceptance

Meaning

Forgiveness

MENTAL RESILIENCE

Mental resilience just means managing our minds in a way that increases our ability to deal with the challenges that tumultuous times may present.

It is the skill of noticing our own thoughts, letting go of non-constructive ones, and rebalancing quickly. Basically, renewing our mind!

Developing resilience is both complex and personal. It involves a combination of inner strengths and outer resources, and there isn’t a universal formula for becoming more resilient. 

When we go through trials, adjustment and recovery take time and resilience is vital to the process.

Don’t get me wrong, resilient people can still experience stress, setbacks, and difficult emotions. However, they learn to tap into their strengths and seek help from support systems to overcome challenges and work through problems.

Resilience empowers them to accept and adapt to a situation and move forward.

How are you doing in the resilience area?

Here are some questions for self-reflection…

How am I feeling about this problem and my ability to get through it in a healthy manner?

What am I doing to prepare myself in order to successfully navigate this season?

Is my natural tendency toward freezing or flexibility?

How is this impacting my relationships?

Where am I feeling stuck and in need of support?

Am I resisting things I cannot change?

What is upsetting my world right now and how am I responding to it?

I realize this is a long list of questions, but maybe one or two them stand out to you. Which ones? Pause and consider…

Final question: How resilient are you and what do you need to take your resilience to the next level?

RESILIENCE TOOL BOX

How awesome would it be if you kept a resilience “tool box” handy for whenever you need to access resilience in your life?

Here are a few items for your tool box!

• Study scripture. Not only will this help you know what God wants you to do in a situation, it may also help you understand why it’s important to keep doing it. Continued study will also help you mature in your faith and make you less vulnerable when there are tough times.
• Pray. Talking to God can help remind you that God is there with you through those tough times. It is also a great way of releasing all of the stress and anxiety in our bodies and minds to God.
• Serve others and share your faith. Lack of resiliency causes us to sit still and not want to move. Fighting that urge and continuing to serve and share our faith can help us be more resilient.
• Remember why God created you. It’s easy to think we have no worth when times are tough. Remembering that God created you and loves you can help. He has created you for a purpose even in the midst of trials.
• Worship. This can completely change your perspective. Entering into His presence can transform you.
• Remember to be hopeful. We have hope on this earth, because we know what is to come. God doesn’t want us to try and rush to Heaven – there are still things on earth He wants you to do. Our focus should never be on the negative situations in our world, but rather on the good things and on our bright eternal future.
• Take care of your health. Get plenty of sleep and exercise. Eat healthy foods. Find a hobby. Laugh. It’s hard to be resilient when you feel physically overwhelmed. Taking good care of your own self will make it easier to endure those tough times.

In the face of certain challenges and uncertain risks, a resilient mindset will serve you well.

Remember, resiliency can turn a crisis into an opportunity to move forward.

You have the resources within you to become more resilient. 

Don’t forget that!