Overcoming Tough Times: The Power of Resilience

Life has been doling out lemons these last 6 months. Things that I would not have dreamed of would happen, have happened. Many people can relate to this – your lemons might be losing your job, or trying in vain to find a job, not being able to pay all of your bills this month, hearing some health news that is hitting hard, a loved one is no longer in your life – you fill in the blanks.

So what keeps you moving on and putting one foot in front of the other each day, making that 20th phone call, asking extra questions to understand what you’re dealing with, making another edit on your resume, making an appointment for a second opinion with another doctor?

Resilience is what it is, and we do not give ourselves enough credit for having it. You are resilient. You are able to cope when tough times come and you have no idea where the strength comes from, but it comes. You remember that your brother or sister, biologically or figuratively, has always been there for you so you, so you give him or her a call. Resilience comes with using both your inner strength to survive one day at a time, and your support system around you to get you through the giant pool of lemons that you’ve been wading through.

Resilience allows us to face setbacks and maintain our mental and emotional well-being during difficult times. Most of the time, it certainly does not feel like we’re maintaining mental and emotional well-being at all until we come out on the other side, after feeling like we’ve hit rock bottom, or near it anyway.

Still, resilience helps us stay focused on solutions rather than being completely overwhelmed by problems. On the other side of the pool of lemons, resilience is the key to emerging alive, recovering and eventually thriving!

Be well!