Building Resilience and Coping with Stress

“I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.” Maya Angelou

Resilience is the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats or even significant sources of stress — such as family and relationship problems, serious health problems or workplace and financial stressors.

Normal reactions to traumatic events involve a flood of strong emotions and a sense of uncertainty.

Survivors and their loved ones can adapt over time to life changes through resilience — this is sometimes called “post traumatic growth.”

Ways to Build Resilience

• Make connections. Relationships are important!
• Try to avoid seeing a crisis as impossible.
• Accept that change is a part of living.
• Move toward your goals — and make that small and actionable.
• Take decisive actions. Avoiding things does not make them go away.
• Look for opportunities of self-discovery.
• Nurture a positive view of yourself.
• Keep things in perspective.
• Maintain a hopeful outlook.
• Pay attention to your own needs and feelings.

Check Your Battery

How are you currently feeling?

Feeling great!

Keep meeting your needs and practicing self-care.

Feeling good!

How can you maintain the levels you’re currently at?

Feeling okay.

How can you make your day a tiny bit better?

Meh.

How can you love on yourself today? Be extra kind to yourself.

Struggling.

Practice triage. What area of your life is suffering the most right now? Focus on that one area today.

I’m empty.

Pinpoint what’s draining you and try to create a boundary & then do one thing that fills you up.