Resilience: How to Bounce Back from Life’s Challenges

“The bamboo that bends is stronger than the oak that resists.” – Japanese Proverb

When the going gets tough, the tough get going – but how do they do it? Resilience is the ability to bounce back and cope with stressful situations. It means that we flexibly adapt to challenges, without compromising our own well-being.

Developing your resilience won’t stop stressful things from happening. But it can reduce their impact and the time it takes to recover from them. That includes everything from minor daily irritations to major stressors like illness, loss, and relationship problems.

Resilient people share certain traits that may be both causes and effects of their flexible approach: good health, good social support, a sense of control over their own lives, an ability to manage their emotional reactions, and constructive problem-solving.

How to Improve Your Resilience

Accept the things you can’t change: Challenges are inevitable – don’t fight the ones that you don’t have the power to change.

Nurture supportive relationships: A good support network can actually help you to live both longer and more happily. 

Set realistic goals and put energy into achieving them: This will reinforce your sense of accomplishment and control over your own life.

Be active, eat well, and rest: Taking care of your body will help you to feel better emotionally — in fact, it’s a pre-requisiste.