The Power of the Bounce Back: Cultivating Resilience

The Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary defines "resilient" as “able to recover quickly after something unpleasant, such as shock or injury, or able to return to its original shape after being bent, stretched, or pressed”. The Bible shares a similar view, describing the human experience, where "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed."

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (NIV).

Throughout our lifetimes, we are often faced with many unexpected circumstances including the loss of loved ones, illness, failure, and global events that we have no hand in, such as inflation, pandemics and wars. Whatever your path in life may be, the one commonality we all share is the inevitability of unforeseen obstacles.

In my 36th year on planet Earth, reflecting back on my life, I can truthfully say that I am incredibly grateful for every season and phase of my life. I wouldn’t trade my blessings, experiences and achievements for anything in the world. However, facing the stark contrast between what you expect life to be and how it actually turns out requires a lot of maturity, grit and resilience.

In an era where we celebrate creativity, individuality, and success, I believe that the most important trait anyone could ever possess, is their ability to be knocked down, dust themselves off, get back up, and keep going. Whenever we are faced with setbacks in our careers, businesses or personal lives, our ability to adapt, accept, learn and try again is in fact one of humankind’s most admirable traits.

Top 5 traits of resilient people:

1. Hope grounded in faith: Resilient people are not delusional, wacky individuals who distract themselves from their problems, or who avoid them all together. We know full well the gravity of the obstacles that life has thrown at us, yet we remain hopeful about the future. As a Christian, my optimism is grounded in my faith that God holds my future and will safeguard my life - Romans 8:28: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." For others, their faith might be grounded in another belief system or philosophy.

2. A solid sense of purpose: Life has a way of throwing unexpected hurdles at you, sometimes several at once. If your life is not rooted in a strong sense of purpose, it is easy to lose your way and to become disillusioned – similar to someone setting out on a road trip with no google maps! You cannot navigate through life with no “destination”.

3. A strong sense of identity: This is one that you will spend a lifetime developing and refining. And no, I’m not referring to your job, wealth, possessions, social status, etc. I am talking about how you view yourself and your worth. Without a solid sense of self, we become more prone to being impacted by the views of others about us – our family, society, and others. However, when you are confident in your own self-worth and value, you remain focused on your journey and growth, disregarding any input or feedback that does not align with your purpose of values.

4. A robust support network: Whoever those may be – family members, friends, friends who become family, or mentors- it essential to surround yourself with like-minded people who support you, root for you and pick you up when you are down. Life is tough enough as it is, it is always good to have a helping hand along the way.

5. Strong emotional regulation: Resilient people experience the full spectrum of emotions, but they don't let those emotions overwhelm them. They have become adept at understanding them and dealing with them in an effective manner, using them as a propeller to move forward and thrive.

True happiness and peace come from our ability to face life’s challenges effectively, accepting them, and “keeping our eye on the prize” as they say. As Albert Einstein eloquently puts it, "The measure of intelligence is the ability to change." So, the next time you are faced with a problem, instead of viewing it as a setback, look at it as an opportunity to learn, grow and become wiser.

Stay strong fellow humans!