At times, our lives can be completely turned on their heads. Jobs we thought were secure are lost. A serious illness may impact us or someone we love. The unexpected happens all the time, and it can be disorienting to say the least. Staying resilient in the face of uncertainty is more important than ever. In unexpected, life-altering moments, how are we able to bounce back and maintain some semblance of normalcy? For some, resilience may be a natural strength in someone’s character; however, if you find that you struggle to keep moving forward with positivity, here are some things you might try to practice.
Look on the bright side of life.
There are so many benefits to practicing optimism including greater physical health, boosted immunity, better ability to handle stressful situations. It is easy to think of optimism as being ignorant of the realities of a situation and only seeing the good in everything; however this belief is not entirely accurate. It is entirely possible to be aware of a situation and still consider things optimistically. Be hopeful for the future and this will help you stay resilient; this time will pass and we shall all be stronger for it.
Understand your sphere of control.
In our current situation specifically, there are many variables that we have absolutely no control over which can be extremely disheartening, stressful, and perhaps maddening. To take a more optimistic approach, you may consider categorizing those things over which you have no control, some control, and absolute control. Your energy is precious and does not deserve to be wasted upon things that you have no control over; acknowledge those things and accept them for what they are. Then, devote your energy to those things that you have total control over. An exercise you may try is to fill in the graph below with all of the possibilities you can think of, graciously accept what is outside of your control, then make an action plan for devoting your energies for what lies in the two inner circles.
Put a new frame on that picture.
What is a better way of looking at this negative situation? Re-framing something negative into a positive is a powerful way to boost your resilience. Perhaps instead of thinking that you are stuck at home, you may re-frame it by saying that you are safe at home with your loved ones.
Practice gratitude.
How many times have we heard “count your blessings”? This common adage can easily go by the wayside. But, it is a wonderful way to stay grounded when it is so easy to fall into negative thinking. Think of three things that you are thankful for, and either begin or end your day with these reflections. Up for a challenge? Look at a negative situation and try to find the blessing within it. Gratitude is an extremely important component of staying resilient.
Uncertainty and the emotions that it brings can be very difficult to combat, but stay positive throughout this situation. Know that you are not in this alone, and also know that it is okay to not be okay. Hug your loved ones tight, reach out if you need some help, and know that this too shall pass. Cornerstone is a community and we are here for you in this time; always feel free to reach out for help or if you need someone to talk to. We shall get through this together.