Sunday, November 4, 2012

Rate Your Resilience


Fiscal cliffs.  Hurricanes. Unemployment. Accidents.  What do they have in common?  If you rate yourself high on the resilience scale, you label them as opportunities.  If you are below the Mendoza line, you see little hope of bouncing back and you blame your strikeouts on your boss, your co-workers, your neighbors, your family, and your God.  Both sides of the resilience spectrum are surprisingly consistent.  How do you rate your resilience?  If you are looking to move up, try these ideas:
  1. Surround yourself with a network of supporters who believe in you.  Church communities are excellent because they are willing to see past your faults.  They are willing to forgive you for your mistakes.
  2. Stop the wallowing.  Millions of people are without power right now.  They are cold and hungry.  Their homes are in ruins.  Why not figure out a way to help some of these families get back on their feet instead of complaining about how unfair your life is?
  3. Be thankful for all the good in your life.  It's easy to overlook the positives when you are facing adversity.
  4. Get immunized.  Consider today's challenges as necessary shots that will immunize you from greater harm.  The side effects are temporary, however, you will be better prepared when your body is inoculated with small doses of adversity.
  5. Seek professional help.  I have no formal training in the field of resilience and this blog is only meant to encourage you in your daily journey.  My best therapist is Jesus.  He understands how it feels to get spit at, bullied, even crucified.  Every time He fell down, He got back up.  He comforts those who lack resilience.  He understands you better than you understand yourself.  He will give you resilience.  All you have to do is ask for it.

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