I was going over my thinking on resilience recently after a particularly challenging relational disappointment in my life, ouch! Finding myself depressed and flat as a tack was most unusual for me. It was time to walk all of my talk, utilise my skills in a disciplined way and get myself back on track with Body Harmony. I want to share with you some of the things I’ve learned that may be of support.
So starting at the beginning I Googled the word and found this:
“Resilience is that ineffable quality that allows some people to be knocked down by life and come back stronger than ever. Rather than letting failure overcome them and drain their resolve, they find a way to rise from the ashes.”
Psychologists have identified some of the factors that make someone resilient, among them a positive attitude, optimism, the ability to regulate emotions, and the ability to see failure as a form of helpful feedback. Even after misfortune, resilient people are blessed with such an outlook that they are able to change course and soldier on. Wow! To appreciate the disappointment and heart break I had found myself in and to actually experience it as a blessing that has supported me to become an even better version of myself. That’s what I choose.
The thing to impress on us all is that resilience is learnable, it’s a skill. And picking up a skill is the way to strengthen your resilience. It is kind of a nice circuit in an upward spiral.
For me it was a matter of digging deeper into myself and picking myself up, taking some slower breaths and then getting on with some new skills. Daily yoga, daily meditation and healthier self talk each day. Changing my diet choices. I’m more selective on what I eat, and when I eat it. Acquiring new skills will be unique to each of us. Goal setting and taking small actions are the steps to rising out of the mud. Some of the new skills may be emotional or mental, such as active listening or swimming or better computer skills.
Body Harmony itself can be seen as a new skill and a skill that is new each time one practices. As such to experience a session is a wonderful way to take that first step out of where you find yourself into something better.
If you would like to explore ways to develop your own resilience through Body Harmony you can contact me to book a private treatment, or make enquiries as to participating in small group classes where you get to learn more about yourself and your body.
Gina Carruthers. BSc (Psych)