Building Resilience Ginny Colwell
Outcomes 1 Understand what is meant by resilience 2 Further understand what can be done to build resilience 3 Leave the room with an action plan to help build your own resilience
What is Resilience? an individual’s ability to effectively adapt to stress and adversity. -- the ability to bounce back after setbacks
Positive emotion = Resilience promotes flexibility in thinking and problem solving promotes recovery from stressful experiences counteracts the physiological effects of negative emotions increases personal well-being
How can we build resilience? The American Psychological Association suggests 10 Ways to Build Resilience: 1.maintain good relationships with close family members, friends and others; 2.avoid seeing crises or stressful events as unbearable problems; 3.accept circumstances that cannot be changed; 4.develop realistic goals and move towards them; 5.take decisive actions in adverse situations;
How can we build resilience? 1.look for opportunities of self-discovery after a struggle with loss; 2.develop self-confidence; 3.keep a long-term perspective; consider stressful events in a broader context; 4.maintain a hopeful outlook, expecting good things and visualizing what is wished; 5.take care of one's mind and body
Work/ Life Balance
The Wheel of Life
Add the 8 important areas in your life Physical environment Personal growth/Spiritual/Self Relationships/Significant other/romance Work/Career Money/finances/pension Health/Fitness Pets Holidays Friends/Family Fun and recreation
The Wheel of Life EXAMPLE
Take Action It’s not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one most adaptable to change. Charles Darwin
Be flexible
No action- nothing changes Turn to your next-door neighbour and share at least one action you are going to take to improve that score. What are you going to do When are you going to do it What will it feel like as it starts to take effect Take 4/5 minutes each
The bend in the road is not the end of the road- unless you refuse to take the turn Unknown Make realistic plans-take small steps Build resilience
Strength/Resilience
The Power of Words Be Positive Positive emotions not only have physical outcomes but also physiological ones.
“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” Winston Churchill
Resilient people look at a problem and say, “What is this trying to teach me?”
The Power of Words Negative I can’t Change Ok What are your Positive I can Opportunity Great Negatives?
Word Stock Take Examine the words you use every day? How do your words effect your reality? Choose your words with thought and intention
“The mind is everything. What you think you become.” Buddha
Affirmations The affirmation needs to be; personal, use words powerful for you positive, in the present I am …………
Choose an Affirmation I am……… Say it aloud at least twice a day First thing in the morning—last thing at night
Coping with Change Accept that change is a part of life and come to terms with circumstances that you cannot change.
"Worry is like a rocking chair -- it gives you something to do, but it doesn't get you anywhere." Dorothy Galyean
Circle of Concern
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Stephen Covey
Spend 5 minutes listing your concerns
Divide into areas of influence/concerns Where can you take action?
Last Exercise “Fun is about as good a habit as there is." Jimmy Buffett What action are you going to take this week to have more fun?!
Have Fun!
Better still; do it with friends!