Who doesn’t love a good summer beach vacation! I love the calming sound of the waves. The constant movement of the ocean, with tides going in and out is amazing.
The waves in our lives seem to be that way…. constant, but, unfortunately, not as calming. Sometimes it all seems to come in one day! It can feel unrelenting at times, you can’t catch your breath before the next wave comes. And, you don’t know when the big ones will hit, but you know they’re coming.
Do you realize that there will be many more waves in the future? My question for you is, how do you respond in times like these? How can you ensure that you’re equipped and ready to adapt in the face of unforeseen challenges, and instead of being consumed by the waves, be equipped to ride the waves?
Stress at Record Highs
Nothing is predictable right now. Stress levels are high. And, it seems like everybody’s on pins and needles. The levels of stress have created a global mental health crisis… across all age groups. Deloitte shares in their Future of Work: The People Imperative report that workplace stress costs global industry upwards of $300B per year in areas such as employee wellness, healthcare, and absenteeism.
But, there is hope!
We’re making progress when it comes to mental health. We’re talking about it more, the stigma around mental health is improving, and there are more resources available
From Surviving to Thriving
How do you go from being reactive to change and stressful situations to being able to deal with those situations more effectively, minimizing the chaos, overwhelm, and stress that can result? How can you go beyond just simply surviving, and turn situations around to begin to thrive?
Resilience is key!
To thrive, you need a good hearty dose of resilience. To thrive doesn’t mean you won’t continue to face challenges. Instead, you’ve learned how to thrive in spite of challenges. You don’t allow the challenges to control your outcomes. So, if I need resilience in order to thrive, what is resilience and where can I get some of that, you ask?
Your Roadmap to Resilience
The definition of resilience by the American Psychological Association emphasizes that resilience is the process of adapting well. Therefore, resilient adaptability is a skill that can be developed. But, it takes focused intention and work, like there are certain exercises you perform at the gym to build certain muscles – push ups build your shoulders, arms, and core. Likewise, there are a set of practices to help you build your skill at resilient adaptability. And those practices can be found within these 5 Resilience Ready Principles: Perspective, Purpose, Perseverance, Partnership, and Praise.
Perspective: Shift Your Perspective beyond the sea of obstacles to the mountains of possibilities!
Purpose: A Meaningful Purpose gives you inspiration to get up every morning and face the day. Rediscover your WHY and find ways to live it,
Perseverance: It’s not pushing through the wall. Perseverance is about Setting the Stage so that you have the psychological, emotional, and physical strength required to work through the challenges you face.
Partnership: Don’t go it alone. There are people who care about you and are there to support you. Take advantage of professional resources, as well.
Praise: Give yourself some grace. Recognize both the effort and the milestones accomplished along the way.
Let these practices become daily habits for you. Starting today, you can begin to unlock resilient adaptability and grow in your path toward Thriving.
Get the Book
Want to learn more? My book, Resilience Ready, and companion workbook are great resources for personal development and for your team at work. Get your copy on Amazon or Audible.
