What Is Resilience and Why Is It Important?

When disaster strikes or when life throws curve balls, why is it that some people are better able to weather the storm and others fall apart? What is it that makes that distinction? Life happens to us all, the good, the bad, and the ugly. Why are some people more resilient and can bounce back from tragedy, pick up the pieces, and start again?

People have experienced personal crises like losing a job, losing a loved one, divorce, natural disasters, mass shootings, or the most recent global pandemic, but in the aftermath, they have not stopped living, dreaming, or enjoying what life has to offer. That’s called resilience.

The American Psychological Association defines resilience as “the process and outcome of successfully adapting to difficult or challenging life experiences, especially through mental, emotional, and behavioral flexibility and adjustment to external and internal demands.” True, some people are born with the ability to be resilient, however, just like any other skill, resilience can be learned, cultivated, and developed.

As far as resilience goes, it is important to note that it is not a fixed trait. This means that people might not show resilience in all areas of their lives. A person might have shown great ability to adapt to challenges in their work life but can feel incapacitated by challenges in their relational lives.

This should not be discouraging. It just shows that we react differently to different situations and can learn from whatever circumstances we find ourselves in. This is resilience.

Types of resilience

The different types of resilience are categorized by the different areas in which a person can adapt, readjust, and cope after something challenging happens that threatens that area of their lives. Below are some common types of resilience:

Emotional resilience

This is the ability to understand and own emotions when faced with a challenging situation. This will in turn give them the ability to regulate how they feel and respond appropriately. They do not let their emotions take over but acknowledge how they are feeling and work through those tough emotions constructively.

Physical resilience

When our physical body is injured, it can heal itself and help us regain our strength. Aided by healthy lifestyle choices, a good immune system, and healthy diets, physical resilience empowers the body to recover from physical stressors quickly and heal from illnesses.

Psychological resilience

Psychological stressors come in the form of trauma, stress, and anxiety, to name a few. Someone who has psychological resilience can uphold their mental and emotional well-being in the face of emotionally challenging situations.

Community resilience

Sometimes a community might experience an adverse situation at the same time. Their ability to pull through as a group is what is defined as community resilience.

Some groups are brought together by suffering the same tragedy or they are brought together by certain challenging situations that are a result of who they are as a community, an example can be hate crimes or discrimination. They build a strong support system as a result of what their challenge is and help each other cope and bounce back.

Professional and academic resilience

Work and study take up a huge chunk of our lives and thus come with challenges and stressors. Those who have professional and academic resilience can keep focused and motivated to continue, even in the face of adversity. It can be a challenging boss or a difficult assignment. These people find a way to keep going, and even after they fail, they pick themselves up and keep at it.

It is important to note that these types of resilience do not work in isolation, they often overlap. For example, for one to be professionally resilient, one would need to be emotionally and psychologically resilient to keep themselves motivated and not fall into discouragement. Their physical health also plays a huge role in making sure that they have the physical stamina to carry out their profession’s demands.

Why is resilience important?

None of us are immune to adversity and the challenges that life throws at us. Being resilient is therefore an important trait to have as it governs our general well-being and our ability to face life’s stressors. Below are some reasons why resilience is important and various benefits it provides.

• The ability to cope with life’s challenges.
• Reduced stress and its harmful effects.
• Flexibility and adaptability to changing environments.
• Help in dealing with failure and setbacks in life.
• Protection against harmful and unhealthy coping mechanisms for adversity.
• Greater mental and physical health.
• More fulfilling relationships.
• It helps in being more compassionate to others.
• Helps one to have a more positive outlook on life.
• Boosts self-esteem and confidence.
• Can make one an inspiration or role model for others facing similar situations.
• Gives the necessary tools to deal with adverse situations.
• Builds mental fortitude.
• Helps improve communication, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.
• Builds a sense of independence as one finds confidence in their strengths and abilities.
• Gives hope as one is not overwhelmed and thus immobilized by hard circumstances.
• Strengthens one’s faith in the goodness of God, people, and the world, even amid challenging situations.

Though not an exhaustive list, it is fair to say building resilience is good for our well-being and should be encouraged for all ages.

How to build resilience

Building resilience is a process. Since it is a much-needed skill, it is exciting to note that this skill can be developed by anyone who puts their mind to it. It is not easy, but doable. Here are some tips and strategies to consider as you start on this journey:

Having a support system

We can never make it in this life on our own. To be resilient in times of strife, you need a good support system that will stand by you and offer comfort, support, and any practical help that might be needed.

Cultivating a positive mindset

This does not mean you have to silver-line everything. It just means that you acknowledge the negative effects of your challenges only to develop strategies to cope and regain strength and not wallow in self-defeat. A positive mindset is empowering.

Acceptance

Being able to accept one’s situation is one sure way of confronting whatever difficulty one is facing. Living in denial and avoidance only serves to prolong the recovery process.

Adaptability and flexibility

This is living with the truth that recognizes that the only thing other than God that is constant is change. Being adaptable means you can adapt to whatever situation throws itself at you and hence cope effectively.

Good communication skills

Communication skills serve us in building resilience in that they help us articulate our situation to others and properly help us ask for necessary help or advice. It also helps us understand our situation better.

Realistic goal setting

You do not set yourself up for failure by setting unattainable goals. You know your strengths and limitations, hence plan your life accordingly.

Problem-solving skills

The ability to tackle challenges head-on can be hard. However, for you to be resilient you have to learn how to think fast, look for resolutions, and know where to seek help. Being able to solve problems helps you to have confidence in your ability to face future problems.

Emotional and relational intelligence

Being aware of your feelings and those of others is important for resilience. You are aware of how to respond appropriately, and relational intelligence means you have been able to cultivate and maintain those relationships that serve as your support system.

Gratitude

No matter how hard things get, they could always be worse. Being grateful reminds you that there are still other things to be grateful for despite the challenging issues you might be facing. Gratitude helps turn the focus from doom and gloom and try to look for new possibilities. Gratitude guards against negative thinking and negative self-talk that are detrimental to resilience.

Self-care

Taking care of yourself means that whenever disaster strikes, you are at least at your optimum best to deal with it. You are almost prepared and have a greater chance of bouncing back quicker.

Having a growth mindset

Each problem is not looked at as a catastrophe but as an adventure. Take each situation as an opportunity to learn, be stretched, and grow.

Have faith

Having faith means you do not rely on your own strength but look to God for protection and guidance in difficult times. Through prayer and reading the word, resilience is built.

Need a listening ear?

Life can be difficult at times. If you or anyone you know is going through a tough time and needs someone to talk to, please contact our offices. We have counselors waiting to help you during this challenging time.