C&T Scene: Learn about developing resilience

According to legend, Thomas Edison made thousands of prototypes of the light bulb before he finally got it right. And, since the inventor was awarded more than 1,000 patents, it’s easy to imagine him failing on a daily basis. In spite of struggling with “failure” throughout his entire working life, Edison never let it get the best of him. All of these failures, which are reported to be in the tens of thousands, simply showed him how not to invent something. His resilience gave the world some of the most amazing inventions of the early 20th century, such as the phonograph, the telegraph, and the motion picture.

It’s hard to imagine what our world would be like if Edison had given up after his first few failures. His inspiring story forces us to ask ourselves – do we have the resilience that we need to overcome our challenges? Or do we let our failures derail our dreams? And what could we accomplish if we had the strength not to give up?

What is Resilience?
It is the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or significant sources of stress — such as family and relationship problems, serious health problems, or workplace and financial stressors. As much as resilience involves ‘bouncing back’ from these difficult experiences, it can also produce profound personal growth.

Rolling with the Punches
In these turbulent times, resilient people are more able to cope with a constantly changing world. They’re more likely to:

• Take stock and bounce back.
• Seek opportunities in setbacks.
• Stay calm and solve problems.
• Be prepared for future challenges.
• Focus on what they can control.
• Put troubles into perspective.
• Stay positive.

Common Myths about Resilience

Resilience Factors
Many factors and characteristics contribute to resilience, including:

• A positive attitude and self-image
• Caring and supportive relationships
• Being a good communicator
• Effective problem solving
• Managing strong feelings, emotions and impulses
• Confidence in one’s strength and abilities
• Being empathetic and compassionate
• Never thinking of oneself as a victim and focusing energy on changing the things that can be controlled
• Having solid goals, and a desire to achieve those goals
• Having a positive image of the future

How to Become More Resilient
Although some people are more resilient than others, the good news is that you can learn, develop, and grow your resilience skills.

• Reframe negative thoughts. Resilient people are able to look at a negative situation realistically, in a way that does not center on what cannot be changed. Focusing on the positive things you can do is a great way to get out of a negative mindset.
• Seek support. Sharing challenges with a supportive friend or loved one can make people feel like they have someone in their corner. Discussing things with others can also help come up with new ideas.
• Focus on what is within your control. It can be easy to get overwhelmed by things that feel far beyond our control. Instead of wishing there was some way to go back in time and change things, try focusing on what is within control. Even when the situation is challenging, taking realistic steps can help improve it. No matter how small these steps may be, they can improve your sense of control and resilience.
• Manage stress.  Building healthy stress-management habits is an effective way to increase overall resilience.

Related resources:
Growing Your Resilience – Dr. Jermaine Davis