Resilience

“You may have a fresh start at any moment you choose, for this thing that we call "failure" is not the falling down, but the staying down.” Mary Pickford

Resilience def: the capability of a strained body to recover its size and shape after deformation caused especially by compressive stress.

Tired of this “new normal” we’ve been optimistically calling a recession? Three years is a long time to be subject to the compressive stress of clients not spending, prospects who are price shopping everything, our once strong value propositions being commoditized, banks not lending and companies not hiring.

Know this. You were born with Resilience. You were born with the ability to bounce back. From anything. To anything. This moment brings you everything that you need. It is all here. Now.

This doesn’t mean it will be easy. It doesn’t mean that it’s without stresses of its own. It requires a leap of faith. It requires being able to let go of old beliefs and old habits and old familiar places and yes, even old familiar faces.

Believe in your dreams and create your new path. What is it that you are passionate about. Do it. Live it. Open yourself to life.

When we are inspired by others who overcome seemingly insurmountable odds, it is easy to not identify that resilience in ourselves. If we do find it in ourselves, it is easy to attribute it to faith, to grace, to God. Psychologists have identified several factors that seem to contribute to a person’s ability to bounce back from major life stresses and be stronger than before.
• ªAvoiding identification with the sad story
• ªSeeking help
• ªHolding the belief that there is something one can do to manage your feelings and cope
• ªLetting go of negative emotions and experiencing forgiveness
• ªBeing connected with others, such as family or friends
• ªSelf-disclosure of the trauma to loved ones
• ªSpirituality
• ªHaving an identity as a survivor as opposed to a victim
• ªHelping others
• ªFinding positive meaning in the trauma

Keep moving forward. Keep reinventing. Get creative. With yourself. And believe. It is not that you are powerless. You are powerful beyond belief, so leap forward.