The Meaning of Resilience [How to Find Strength]

  Finding the meaning of resilience means that we need to explore the essence of what makes us bounce back from adversity and keep going when things don't go as planned. Because, let’s face it, things don’t always go as planned, so we have to do the hard work that it takes to dive into the shit, dig into our strength, and in this process, build resilience.  

Resilience is an essential quality for anyone to develop. It allows people to cope with stress and adversity in life. It’s a quality we all need to cultivate in our lives because we all face challenges and setbacks. If we're not resilient, we might give up too quickly. This would mean we'd never try anything new because we wouldn't think we could succeed. That fear will keep us trapped and separate from our source of strength.

Resiliency Definition

Psychology Today describes it this way:

“Resilience is that ineffable quality that allows some people to be knocked down by life and come back stronger than ever. Rather than letting failure overcome them and drain their resolve, they find a way to rise from the ashes.”

In a nutshell, resiliency is bouncing back from the things that knock us down. The act of bouncing back is the essence of what the word “resilience” means.

We don’t build resiliency by looking for it somewhere “out there,” but instead find it within. And it doesn’t always mean we bounce back immediately. Bouncing back from setbacks and building resilience is a process, and this process will be different for everyone since we all cope with stress and adversity in life in different ways.  

Some top tips to find strength and support the process of building resilience: 

Don't Give Up.

When something knocks us down or takes us away from a goal we were hoping to achieve, a critical thing to do is look at what’s taking place. It’s a lot like the act of trusting, in general. What if the new way you’re being guided isn’t really “off course” but instead shows you a different and better way than you had initially thought? 

Or what if it’s helping you to learn something you need to know, which will help you get to the next level? When hitting a roadblock, it’s easy to think you’re being shown a sign to give up. And sometimes, that might be true because we’re supposed to find a new trajectory. Still, the important takeaway is that hitting a roadblock doesn’t mean that we are supposed to give up immediately and stop whatever we’re trying to achieve/do.

If you've been struggling with something, don’t forget to look at the progress you have made (or are making). It’s easy to give up and much more challenging to stay the course and do the hard work it takes to create the thing you’re trying to develop or find the strength to keep going.

Is there a time in our lives that we should give up? Definitely! If you keep hitting brick wall after brick wall; these are signs to slow down and gain clarity to ensure that you’re on the right path. There’s a fine line between trusting the process and being aware when the universe is trying to show you a different way. This is why it’s essential to tune into yourself and learn to listen to your gut (or what we can call intuition).

Learn from Mistakes.

It's easy to think that mistakes are bad, but they aren't. They’re not failures but rather opportunities to learn and get more educated about a particular topic or thing happening in our lives. This is the process of taking in more wisdom. So instead of thinking negatively about yourself for a supposed “mistake,” focus on the fact that you’re being shown a new way to gain a unique experience. 

Mistakes take the act of resilience to get through because you must go within to find the strength to move through any repercussions you might have to endure. And, from this place, this is how you pick the pieces back up to keep moving. If you seem to keep making the same mistake repeatedly (or hitting the same roadblock), this is the opportunity to look at what you’re doing more closely. You want to give yourself time and space to assess what needs to change.

Take Care of Yourself.

To feel less stressed, take care of yourself. Having resiliency can mean that we can sometimes push ourselves over the edge and into an unhealthy state. During the times when we need more strength and use our resilient power, these are usually the times when we need to de-stress and relax more. We can do many things like going for a walk, meditating, eating well, sleeping, exercising, and spending time with people that matter to us. These activities will help you relax and recharge.

It’s critical to remember that we can’t fill other people’s cups if our cup is empty. We must be mindful of how we treat ourselves. This is how we find more strength, which is the very thing that resiliency is made of. 

Focus on the Big Picture.

You can focus on the big picture by taking a step back and looking at what's important to you. This helps you ease more into whatever is happening in your life, fuel resiliency, and help you find strength. Our actions can affect others, just as other people’s lives can affect us. If you get trapped in the minutia, step back and see the bigger picture. This will allow you to ensure that minor roadblocks don’t become more significant issues in your life. 

Conclusion

Finding the meaning of resiliency is about assessing how you bounce back from adversity. Things don’t always go as planned, so we must be ready to do the hard work around finding sources of strength within us and building resiliency from the inside out. 

It’s about not giving up, learning from mistakes, taking care of yourself, and focusing on the bigger picture.