What is resilience?
- Resilience is the ability to adapt to difficult situations and or experiences.
- When a negative experience or “crisis” occurs, it is normal for us to lose some functionality temporarily.
- This loss or reduction of functionality can be mental, physical or both.
- Resilience is the ability to ‘bounce back’. A person with high resilience will return to their normal functionality much quicker and more effectively than someone with low resilience.
Domains of resilience
- There are 5-6 commonly accepted domains or aspects of resilience:
- Vision
- Composure
- Tenacity
- Reasoning
- Collaboration
- Health
The vision domain
There are a number of ways to describe or understand vision. Especially in the context of resilience.
- Someone with high resilience or a high score in the Vision domain might say that” After experiencing a traumatic event or time of stress it is important to find your – direction or purpose and move forward.”
- Key attributes within the vision domain include
- Purpose
- Setting focused goals
- Consistency
Purpose
To have purpose, is to strive for an objective big or small, with intention.
- Tips for finding purpose:
- Look to your hobbies
- Try volunteering
- Join a group that supports a cause
- Try building off your strengths or working on your weaknesses
Purpose – activity
- Write out your current life story (focusing mostly on the present – be objective)
- Now, write your ‘ideal story’ – If no barriers or obstacles existed what would your life look like right now?
- Make a list of things that make you happy or satisfied [hobbies, interests etc.]
- Now, with a highlighter or pen; compare your ideal story and your list. Acknowledge any common themes, statements or ideas. Use your current story as a reference and ask your self a few questions:
- Do any of my ideal themes or ideas already exist in my current story?
- If so, how can I build on these themes?
- If not- look for opportunities to add or adjust your current story
Hopefully this activity can help to narrow down your purpose or direction
Setting goals
A goal is the object or result of ambition. Having and setting goals are a significant factor in resilience building and maintenance.
The process of goal setting, plus action planning, plus reviewing success and adjusting or advancing your plan that builds and reinforces resilience.
- M.A.R.T. goal setting and action planning are great skills to help identify and move forward with your goals.
- Both the Keeping on Track and the Tool Box- Action Planning education sessions are great resources to better understand and practice your goal setting.
Consistency
To be consistent is to always behave or perform in a similar way
- Consistency can be looked at as a benchmark for resilience
- Being consistent in the setting of resilience would mean that you are staying true to your purpose and values, and are able to maintain behaviours and stick to your goals despite challenges and setbacks
Improving consistency
Consistency, goal setting and purpose are interrelated. Setting structured goals can improve your consistency and having a strong sense of purpose can keep you true to your values and on track with your goals.
Some key skills required to reinforce this loop include:
- Routine: establishing a routine can help with setting and achieving goals as well improving general consistency
- Accountability: ensures you are keeping consistent with your purpose and can support goal setting
- Reflection: providing yourself with constructive honest feedback can reinforce your success or help you get back on track when things don’t go as planned.
Want more information?
- Speak to an Exercise Therapist.
- Check out the Next Steps Tool box- Introduction to Resilience
- Check out the Next Steps Tool box- Assessing Resilience
- Check out the Next Steps Tool box- Building Resilience- Composure
- Check out the Next Steps Tool box – Action Planning
- Check out Keeping on Track