Often times we find ourselves trampled by the adversities in life, holding us back from doing our day-to-day routines or simply leaving a mental scar in our minds. These different unfortunate events can happen throughout the entire human life-span. In fact, they are inevitable. Many would say that facing these challenges in life is bound to human life. It is aligned with our destiny and it can appear at any moment. Many of life’s adversities can occur through a natural disaster, facing a challenging team in a soccer match, or even experiencing the death of a loved one. Life is really full of challenges and they often knock us down; making us feel hopeless, lost, and broken.
Human life is really designed to be troubled but is it true that facing one simple obstacle completely wrecks us, tears us down, and leaves us entirely broken? There is a famous Japanese verb, “fall down seven times, stand up eight.” This proverb is the cornerstone of human existence and is ultimately our drive in our daily life. We may find difficulty in standing up after falling, but in doing so, it paves the way for us to do better. This concept is commonly referred to as resilience; getting up and thriving from major challenges. It is often seen when we encounter stressful factors in our daily life and when a tragedy strikes.
Here are some tips to help you build resilience:
Accept that life is full of changes. Humans tend to feel inclinations towards familiarity and likeliness. When changes arise in our lives like facing adversities and challenges, we feel startled and distressed because we often feel like we have no control over that aspect of our lives. Take moving to a new school for example. The experience can be daunting, overwhelming, or even exciting but overall this change in our life is something that we would have to learn to adapt. During these times it is important to learn that changes can be a challenge to overcome rather than a threat. By looking at it in a positive light, it serves to shift our pessimistic view of change, and take it instead as an opportunity to grow. Some of us may be used to change or even content with the way things change. It all boils down to examining yourself and seeing why and how you feel about certain things changing. Lastly, we are in control of our emotions, some things in life are really just bound to happen; you can’t change the inevitable but you can change the way you feel about it.
View it as a whole. To reiterate, we are in control of our emotions so it all comes down to your attitude towards certain challenges that you face in life. It is easier said than done, but stay positive and find the positive in these situations. By changing your attitude, it enables you to learn. Learning about the entire experience allows you to feel more prepared when it happens again or randomly appears. You also learn more about yourself; learning your response to stressful situations and how you could improve yourself for the next time it happens.
Have faith in yourself. We are all capable of attempting to solve challenging problems. Take some time, and identify the challenge. Brainstorm, plan, and view the entire problem as a whole in order to fully tackle it. Ask for help, whether it be your friends, family, or school counsellor– having an extra hand alleviates the burden of tackling the issue on your own.
Self-care is key. We find ourselves overworked and overwhelmed with school, work and the other responsibilities that encompass life. Know that you deserve a break whether that be hanging out with your friends, reading a good book, playing some video games, or simply a walk outside. Let your emotions out, writing in a journal or seeking to talk to someone, bundling up your emotions will only lead to a slippery slope.
Note: The Free Your Mind Mental Health Society is an independent youth-led
organization. The contents of this blog are not intended to be a substitute for
professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your
physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have
regarding a medical condition. In the event of a medical emergency, please call your
doctor or 911 or other local emergency numbers immediately.
References:
Erhui1979. (n.d.). Sisyphus – stock vector [Digital image]. Retrieved November 29, 2020, from https://assets.entrepreneur.com/content/3×2/2000/20190227210125-GettyImages-803227220.jpeg?width=700&crop=2:1
HealthWise Staff. (2019, December 16). Building Resilience. Retrieved November 29, 2020, from https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/health-topics/abk9962