I’ve written quite a bit about tenacity, but not that much about resilience.
Resilience is the ability to bounce back after being stressed. In terms of the physical items around us, some compounds are resilient: rubber, for example, will bounce back and assume its original shape. Other items are not resilient: glass, for example, shatters easily and won’t take pressure the way rubber will.
In people, we all know those who, when subjected to stress of some kind (sickness, financial failure, heartbreak, disappointment, for example), seem to bounce back, no matter what the stress involved, or how deep it may be. Serious illness? They seem to take it in stride. Financial difficulties? They find a way to deal with them, and even rise above their troubles.
We also know those who fold at the simplest of stressful times… the first little setback, and they’re left collapsed on the floor.
Perhaps some of this is the way a person grows up, some may be genetic, and some may be from experience or learning, but I firmly believe that each and every one of us can learn to develop more resilience in our lives.
The truth is that all of us, no matter how positive our outlook, how fit our bodies, or how complete our resume, are going to have little downturns in life. All of us are going to come up against the occasional challenge. None of us is immune, and even the “golden children” among us are going to have stresses in life. The key is to keep going, keep believing, and take each stress and challenge in stride, committing to stick to it until it sticks to you.
The person who can greet each day with hope and a positive belief, no matter how gloomy the previous day might have been, is a person who will win in life’s challenges.
It’s all about bouncing back and bouncing higher than before.
Have a great weekend!
TERRY Talks 