In the dictionary, resilience can be defined as the capacity to withstand or to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness. The second definition describes it as the ability of a substance or object to spring back into shape; elasticity. Now, I want you to picture a sponge...
The sponge gets wet, absorbs the water and then is
squeezed until every bit of water that was in the sponge is out... The sponge does not remain squished or crumpled up,
it springs back into shape. For us to be resilient we must have the
inner strength to rise above our challenges, to not 'lose our shape' and instead have the ability to bounce back from hardship.
People who are resilient do not face less obstacles or challenges than others, they do not experience grief or loss or heartbreak less than others and they certainly don't experience less stress than everyone else. So then what is it that sets them apart?
It's how they cope with those feelings and situations. Which is why I say resilience requires bravery...
As most of us know,
it can be quite easy to fall into bad habits when we are stressed or going through a tough time... Making the decision to do the opposite can be difficult, the road less travelled and therefore more challenging.
Let's face it,
it's so much easier and comforting to our distressed bodies and minds to stuff our face with wine and chocolate, or to bury our head under the duvet to try and hide from the world and our problems. And that's just the conscious decisions we make... Shall we talk about the barrage of negative thoughts that most likely occupy the passenger seat in your mind?
Now, I feel it's important to note that I'm not saying we should avoid our thoughts and feelings, no.
Feel it, but keep moving. Remember the sponge? It's squeezed, but it bounces back and retains its shape. There will be times where life squeezes the heck out of you and you can be scared, be stressed, be sad, be anxious...
But also be brave, be resilient.
Whether in your personal or professional life,
being resilient is such an important skill to have. It won't take your problems away (I wish!), but it will help you see past them and handle your stress better. Basically, instead of dwelling on your problems and feeling down in the dumps, you will be able to face your obstacles with a more can-do attitude and be able to think more positively and solution-based.
At Staff Training we offer
Resilience training, a short course that is perfect for both teams and individuals. We highly recommend this workshop to anyone wishing to develop their resilience in a personal and professional capacity.
Staff Training is a South African soft skills training provider with more than 60 workshops on offer. Email us at
info@StaffTraining.co.za for more info or give us a call at 0861 996 660.
