Resilience

Resilience is the ability to adapt to the stressors that we experience in everyday life. Resilience is not a trait that people have or don’t have, rather it is a skill that everyone can develop and practice over time.

When we are resilient, we are able to feel in control of a situation we are faced with. This means that we do not feel trapped by any obstacles and can often find a solution to solve a problem. To measure resilience, we utilize the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale through the ACHA-NCHA III. Individuals are asked to state how likely they identify with the following statements:

• I am able to adapt when changes occur.
• I tend to bounce back after illness, injury or other hardships.

Resilience can occur when you change your perspective on a situation or try to make light of a situation you might be in. For example, if someone performs poorly on an exam, they can exhibit resilience by choosing to study harder next time.

Maintain a Sense of Perspective

Always ask yourself, “how big is this problem in reality?” Sometimes, the issues we face might seem larger than what we initially perceive them to be. Additionally, one bad obstacle can seem worse than the many great experiences we have in life. It’s important to recognize that if we are having a bad day, that there will be many more good ones ahead of us!

Remember Your Locus of Control

Sometimes what happens in life is out of our control. However, what we can control is how we respond. You can choose to respond to a situation with optimism, or even laughter!

Let Go of Anger or Sadness

It can often be difficult to deal with issues that are causing us to be bogged down with emotions. While this is a very normal reaction, dwelling on these feelings won’t help us grow in the long run. Take steps to lose these feelings by journaling, using breathing exercises and eventually taking action to overcome your obstacle. 

Learn More

American Psychological Association

Although responding with resilience is important in our day to day lives, it is important to remember that every hardship we face does not have to be immediately combated with resilience. Responding with frustration, anger or any other emotion is completely valid.