4 Ways to Build Resilience to Survive Tough Times

We are experiencing tough times, no doubt. Uncertainty in many areas of life clouds over a lot of us. Aside from the fear of contracting the virus that has caused the global pandemic, there are also challenges brought on by financial difficulties. Social and political turmoil also affects us both directly and indirectly. Not to mention, each of us has personal issues that cause stress from time to time.

Whatever that the source of your stress and hardships is, whether they’re a product of the global pandemic or personal problems (or both), it’s important that you learn how to cope. While surviving through tough times can take a huge toll on your mind, body, mood, and overall outlook in life, giving up shouldn’t be an option. 

To successfully survive life trials, it is important to recognize and accept the fact that life isn’t perfect. Problems are bound to arise every once in a while. With this in mind, you become more equipped and prepared to weather through the storm. In time, you will be able to strengthen your mind, soul, and body, and build the kind of resilience that will help you cope with stress, changes, and hardships. 

The Importance of Building Personal Resilience

Have you ever found yourself admiring someone who seems to have been through a lot but is still able to continue living a good life? It is possible that they were able to build resilience over time. Resilient people can tolerate emotional and psychological distress better than others. The more resilient a person is, the better and faster they cope with adversity. They are able to recover from the setback faster and to find objective solutions to their problems.

It is ideal for everyone to build the kind of resilience that will get them through sadness, disappointment, and loss. Remember that all of us can feel all of these emotions and go through tough situations. However, resilience determines whether you will allow yourself to drown in them or find the strength to fight and live life to its fullest.

4 Ways to Build Resilience

Building resilience doesn’t happen overnight, especially if you are someone who is overly sensitive or to a point, an empath. However, there are ways you can do to gradually build resilience.

Practice acceptance.

As mentioned above, it is important to accept that hardships are a part of life. In fact, it is the first step to building resilience. It’s fine to react to stressful events differently than others, but you should never ignore and avoid a problem, or refuse to acknowledge the existence of the problem. 

Sure, distancing yourself from conflict gives you time to think and breathe. It also keeps you from cooling down so you won’t react angrily or aggressively. However, deliberately sweeping issues under the rug will eventually hurt you and the people around you in time. Conflict and problems, like secrets, always find a way to be known and noticed.

So, the next time you are faced with a problem regardless of its magnitude, accept the situation. Furthermore, do not try to invalidate your feelings.

Talk about it.

When confronted with problems, many of us like to avoid talking about it, thinking that doing so just makes them even more stressed. Quite the contrary, reaching out to someone you trust and talking about your situation can help ease your burdens. What’s more, you can also acquire valuable advice that may actually help you solve your current problem.

Don’t skimp on self-care.

Living through challenging times can take a toll on you both physically and mentally. When you are constantly on the edge because of high stress levels, your health might deteriorate. It’s possible to experience digestive problems and your immune system may suffer. 

Your body and mind are linked, so whenever you feel psychologically and emotionally drained, you may also experience physical health issues. You can avoid this by taking care of yourself as much as possible. 

Invest in good and nutritious food. Try to incorporate exercise into your daily routine. Practice relaxation techniques and follow a sound sleeping schedule.

Pursue a hobby.

Dwelling on problems that are not solvable will do you nothing good. What you can do instead is to spend your time and focus your attention on something that can improve your mood and get your head off stressors. Pick up a hobby that you can do at home. You can also check out free online classes to keep yourself productive.