How to Build Resilience

Fortunately, anyone can build resilience in themselves if they naturally lack it. The process should ideally begin in childhood with the help of parents. However, adults can also develop this critical personality trait with the help of the following tips:

Reframe Negative Thoughts

One of the characteristics of resilient people is that they can look at adverse circumstances more realistically but also in a way that doesn’t focus on things that cannot be changed. Instead of considering a difficulty as impossible, consider reframing your thoughts to look for possible ways to tackle the problem.

Parents can also utilise this approach to help their children learn healthy coping skills to apply in difficult situations. Encourage them to look at everyday challenges in a positive light. Instead of getting stuck in a loop of negativity, help the child learn how to visualise these events as opportunities where they can challenge themselves and learn something new.

Seek Support

Sharing the difficulties in your life will not make them go away, but confiding in a supportive loved one or friend can help you feel like you have someone in your corner. These loved ones can help you develop resilience, gain insight into the current challenges, and develop new strategies to manage them.

To help a child develop a robust support system, adults must model good social skills for them to follow. These social skills include practising empathy, sharing feelings, expressing gratitude, helping others, and reinforcing good behaviour.

Focus on What’s In Control

A crisis or challenging time can easily overwhelm anyone, especially when it involves things that feel far beyond control. In such circumstances, do not waste your time wishing there was a way to go back in time to change things. Instead, try focusing on what you can still change or make better. In the case of children, adults can foster this habit by discussing their situation openly and helping them make a plan for how to react.

Control Stress

Try to build healthy stress management habits to boost your overall resilience. These habits may include behaviours that support overall health, such as regular exercise, adequate sleep, and the following actions taken particularly during stressful times:

• Progressive muscle relaxation
• Expressive writing
• Diaphragmatic breathing exercises
• Meditation
• Yoga
• Acupuncture

Children and adults can learn and eventually master these skills with some practice. With this newly developed skill set, such people can feel better prepared to face a stressful or challenging situation and have enough resilience to bounce back quickly. If you are struggling to keep your stress levels under control, consider seeking support from a professional therapist.