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10 Ways To Build Resilience : Tougher and Happier

    Resilience illustration with an arrow

    If there is a list of essential life qualities, I am sure that resilience or resiliency will be among the top spots.

    In the world that we live in today, you have to have this quality.

    After all, it literally allows you to keep moving forward in the face of adversity. I know this might sound like something you hear at an army training camp, but trust me, the state of the world is such that you need to be extremely resilient even in your daily life.

    Some people naturally have this quality while most learn it over the course of their life.

    But fret not, it’s not that hard.

    There are a handful of things you can do and incorporate into your daily life that will slowly but steadily instill resilience in you.

    And before you’ll even know it, this power will be surging inside you ready to take on anything that life throws at you.

    Let’s take a look at ten ways to build resilience.

    1. Set A Meaningful Goal

    It is essential to have a meaningful goal in life.

    This helps focus your attention, time, and energy in a particular direction.

    If you don’t have a goal, it’s only logical that you will be going around in circles! You will also not feel the need to face your challenges head-on because there won’t be anything you’d want to fight for.

    Having a goal changes all of that. All of a sudden, you will have something to live and work for.

    You will have a direction and a path. And if it holds a deep personal significance, you will be much more willing to face your problems instead of just shying away.

    So, one of the first things to do in life is to know what you want out of it.

    2. Prioritize Action

    Unfortunately, a lot of people talk a big game but are not able to back it up by any action.

    But I can’t tell you how important it is to be action-oriented in life.

    If you prioritize action, you will be driven by hard work and not by your anxiety or fear. As humans, it’s normal to dwell on the uncertainties of the future but that will lead you nowhere.

    So, make plans and put them in action.

    That way, even if an obstacle shows up, you will merely see it as just another thing to take action for. You won’t get riled up or get affected by it on a deeper mental level.

    3. Embrace Change

    If you stop for a second and think about reality, you will come to realize that change is encoded into the very fabric of existence.

    I mean, time keeps on passing without fail, and with it, things are always changing into other things!

    History is filled with examples where people tried to keep the status quo alive and change happened anyway!

    So, it’s futile to resist it and introduce stress into your life all the time.

    Instead, what you need to do is ride the wave. Embrace change with open arms and try to improvise in such a way that you can still achieve your goals and dreams.

    If you are able to do this, it will be a textbook definition of resilience.

    man jumping with confidence

    4. Enhance Self-Image

    Self-image is the way you look at yourself.

    No, it’s not just about how you look in the mirror but about how you perceive yourself as a human being.

    Most of the time, people’s self-image is not at par with their actual selves.

    They either think too much of themselves or too little. If you are doing the latter, you really need to take steps to enhance your self-image.

    This is because the way you look at yourself influences your decisions, plans, worldview, relationships, and most other important aspects of a person’s life.

    When you look at yourself as a fighter, you will be able to defeat challenges in your way.

    If not, you won’t be. It’s as simple as that!

    How to do that?

    My trick is simple.

    Every morning, when brushing my teeth and looking at myself in the mirror, I listen to a song that makes me feel like a fighter.

    Some would suggest the rocky movie song, others would say “fighter” by christina aguilera, or “stronger” by kelly clarkson.

    Well, there are many of them you can choose from.

    The lyrics are like positive affirmations that your repeat every day and that really boost your confidence level. I know it sounds simple but the key is the repetition. Do it at least for 30 days in a row… and be ready to act like a fighter 🙂

    5. Engage In Self-Care

    In the fast-paced modern-day life, it’s quite normal to get lost in the sheer amount of responsibilities and work.

    As such, your well-being, hobbies, happiness, and other things might take a back seat.

    In the mid to long term, this can result in a lot of bad consequences. It can have negative physical, mental, and emotional issues. Maybe that’s why so many people have so-called “lifestyle diseases” today.

    If you think about yourself at the fundamental level, it’s obvious that you will only be able to perform at your peak level if you are happy and at peace.

    So, how do you achieve this? Well, by taking some time out every day and engaging in self-care.

    Do the things that you love, watch your favorite netflix tv series, laugh a little, and spend some time winding down. You totally deserve it!

    6. View Obstacles Differently

    Perspectives matter a lot.

    The way you look at things is the way you deal with them.

    So, if you look at obstacles as insurmountable challenges, then that’s how you will approach them.

    You will most likely take action from a place of fear instead of a rational mind.

    When you do this, you will be more likely to give up or breakdown. Both of these are a huge no-no!

    So the question arises.

    How do you look at obstacles differently?

    Well, you need to look at them as opportunities or as stepping stones towards your success.

    Take these obstavles as lessons. Learn what you need from each obstacle and keep moving forward.

    Even though nobody wants to admit this, challenges are what make you stronger and wiser.

    And only a stronger and wiser you can ultimately handle the very success you want!

    Every morning we are born again. what we do today is what matters most.

    7. Develop Skills and Knowledge

    Nobody comes to this world with all the skills and knowledge needed to take on life.

    We all learn as we go.

    Naturally, in your work life too, you have to constantly learn and develop new skills. You need to stay updated on the knowledge pertaining to your area of work.

    There are a ton of resources both online and offline that can help you do this.

    Of course, it won’t happen in a single day and is rather an ongoing process.

    However, the payoff of doing so is huge. It will make you much more resilient because you will have the confidence to take on problems (as you know you have the skills and knowledge).

    Also, problems will be easier to solve because you will be wiser about how to handle them! It’s a two-pronged benefit.

    8. Surround Yourself With Loved Ones

    Loved ones, whether they are your friends or family, form a critical support structure in your life.

    Most people have at least one person in their life that they can turn to for advice.

    Whenever something bad happens, you immediately look for them to express how you feel and seek counsel. Sometimes, their mere presence is enough for you to keep fighting.

    How many parents keep going despite difficulties for the sake of their children?

    That’s why it’s important to surround yourself with as many loved ones as possible.

    Their energy, counsel, and presence will help you deal with challenges on your road to success.

    But be careful to only keep genuine people in your life. Otherwise, the effect will be quite the opposite.

    9. Adopt Spiritual Practices

    Spiritual practices have helped mankind for thousands of years.

    There are many of these practices like meditation and mindfulness that you can instill in your daily life. Their benefits are immense and have even been backed by countless studies over the past decades.

    Take meditation for example.

    It helps you calm down and gain clarity. It helps you organize your thoughts and emotions so that you can respond to your problems consciously instead of doing so reactively.

    Mindfulness, on the other hand, helps you remain aware of your present moment and so, your thoughts do not wander off in unwanted places. This helps you make good decisions in real-time.

    Other practices like breathing exercises and yoga help you remain healthy and fit and allow you to do more within the same amount of time while keeping your mental sanity!

    10. Be of Service To Others

    As I said above, perspectives matter a lot.

    A great way to broaden your horizons is to be of service to others. This is because when you actively try to bring positive change into other people’s lives, you become aware of the problems that they are facing.

    You suddenly realize that you are not the only one with constant challenges in your way. You realize that some of these people have much scarier problems than you and this is what gives you a broader perspective.

    So, when you try to be of service to others, you are not only helping them, but you are also helping yourself. It is a win win situation.

    You gain new inspiration and motivation to deal with your own set of problems. Suddenly, they will start appearing much less intimidating than they once did and this state of mind is what you need to defeat them and get back on track.

    So what about you? what abot your experience? Among these 10 ways to build resilience, tell us which way is the most helpful for you.

    summary of ways to build resilience

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