Resilience - A Process & An Outcome
Read Time: 4 minutes
In this issue we’re going to discuss resilience. Oura recently announced the addition of the new resilience feature to their platform. Given resilience is one of the six (6) elemental skills we emphasize in our framework we felt we should take a beat to share our take on resilience with you.
Over the past several years the search for resilience has grown to all time highs. Both individuals and organizations are desperately looking for ways to boost it. A lack of resilience is commonly cited as one of the primary reasons contributing to all time lows in reported well-being.
It’s apparent that there is agreement that resilience is a metric worth tracking, most believe it’s a quality worth possessing, but there seems to be less definitiveness when determining how to address it. Is this something to be left to people to address independently, something that should be addressed systematically by the organization, or some combination of both?
When you think of resilience what comes to mind?
Understanding Resilience
The first thing that comes to mind for most people when they think of resilience is “toughness” or “the ability to withstand or bounce back”. It typically carries with it a strong outcome connotation. We rely heavily on the results to determine whether or not someone or something is resilient. Relating to resilience in this way only tells us half the story. It doesn’t help us appreciate it for the skill that is, or better yet, the skill that it could be, if cultivated.
At STC, we say Resilience is the advancing through adversity!
We believe this definition gives us the comprehensiveness we need to intentionally work on our resilience. It’s both descriptive and prescriptive. Anyone can read this definition and immediately appreciate what resilience means. More importantly, anyone can read this definition and immediately appreciate what is needed if we are going to approach resilience as a practice.
We need adversity. We need action. We need purposeful progress.
Remove any one of those variables and you’re no longer being resilient. You’re simply surviving.
Being Resilient
Being resilient is much more than bouncing back to status quo or hoping your coping mechanisms work out in your favor.
Being resilient necessitates proactivity and continual growth towards a defined goal.
Being resilient is both the process and outcome of successfully adapting to adversities.
These adaptations can occur through physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual dimensions.
When we make this shift, and begin embracing the idea of being resilient something powerful happens. Our entire perspective changes. Our relationship with adversity is upgraded.
We become friends instead of foes.
Adversity is no longer seen as the obstacle, but instead the opportunity.
The opportunity to build our resilience.
Building Resilience
“Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit.” - Napoleon Hill
Resilience is truly a seed within us all. This seed like any other seed needs the proper conditions and cultivation to flourish.
Resiliency is a mind-body game. It is a matter of both thoughts and actions. It requires thinking differently and acting differently. In most instances our minds are the problem, and our bodies are simply the scoreboard.
From a quantitative standpoint, resilience is your body’s ability to withstand psychological stress and recover from it in the long term.”
When training for resilience the key is understanding that you’re always playing the long game.
Consistency should always take precedence over intensity.
Here is a four step process to help you align the mind-body and build resiliency.
Slow Down. Take a complete breath. [Inhale deeply, Exhale completely]
Aside from my thoughts, is everything ok?
In light of reality, is what I'm doing helpful and healthy?
What is the next most obvious step I need to take?
Enjoy the practice!