November 26th, 2007
Bouncing Back- Pt 4
This week we look at the last three resiliency-building skills to help you bounce back after stress.
Self-discovery – Everything that happens to you provides you with an opportunity to learn about yourself. No matter how difficult and painful the experience, there are always seeds for growth and opportunity. Sometimes these seeds are hard to find, but if you look you will find them. Be open to the personal growth that can happen during and after life crises.
Humor – Having a sense of humor will help you move through setbacks more easily. Laughter has been shown to boost immunity, lower blood pressure, and increase positive emotions. Despite the very serious nature of many setbacks, finding some humor can help you feel better and cope more effectively with the circumstances.
Spirituality – Spirituality is a big part of resiliency. Having a deep spiritual belief system will help you move through difficult times. For many spiritual people, a belief in divine will, destiny, or karma helps them let go of the things they cannot control. Many spiritual beliefs help people develop an understanding that everything happens for a reason. Spirituality creates a sense of aliveness or vitality that is powerful and invigorating.
Remember that resiliency is a way of life and requires you to incorporate these coping strategies into your daily life. As you increase your resilience, you will find that you handle stressors more readily and bounce back more quickly from crises and pitfalls. You will be a resilient person who can move through life with grace and dignity no matter what happens.
Until next month…
Kirsten
