This time of year I often find conversations about building strength and resilience in the body being essential as we head into the colder months.
However, emotional resilience has also been a hot topic the past year while I’ve supported many families through changing work environments, lack of social connection, online school, and so much fear.
I have a few tattoos, and one of them is an arrow because it consistently reminds me that life just keeps moving forward, and it’s always our choice how to adapt to it.
The loving care you give yourself and your physical body will always help you cultivate greater resilience for whatever challenges present in your life.
In my humble experience I’ve observed that emotional resilience can be shaped by
Unwavering RESOLVE to live by your values.
Have you ever stopped to think about this? What are the 5-10 values that are most important to you and the life you want to live? If you are clear on what your values are, are you practicing them by the actions you make everyday? If you need some direction here ask me for the values exercises I recommend.
Consistent CONNECTION with powerful souls who love you and remind you who you are.
Your personal and professional relationships matter, as does the amount of time you spend with them. Are you consistently making time for the people in your life who matter to you?
Relentless OPTIMISM.
This is easier for some than others, but your thoughts matter and what you consistently dwell upon expands. Choose your thoughts wisely and find gratitude for the simple things you appreciate in your life. [Read the post on gratitude here]
GROUNDING yourself in nature.
If you’re like me at all, this one is a little tougher in the colder months, but time outdoors is so good for our health! Make time to get outside everyday and take a few deep breaths. Even just a brief walk everyday may just clear your mind and help you find a little more peace.
FEELING all the feelings that come up rather than sedating, avoiding or suppressing them.
When we avoid what we feel we don’t heal. Is it time to examine some of the consistent thoughts or feelings that come up for you? Do you need to talk to someone who can help support your mental health?
EXPRESSING yourself in healthy and safe environments.
Expanding on point #2 about connection, do you feel you can communicate freely with the people you need to? Are you holding back or being a little less of yourself in any of your relationships because you don’t feel you can openly and easily? What needs to change?
MOVING your body some way to shake up your energy and shift your mood.
We are not designed to be sedentary beings. Movement is life, and we meant to move! It doesn’t matter if it’s an intense training session, a slow walk, a yoga practice or dancing in your kitchen, just aim to move your body everyday. Trust me, if there was one thing I wish everyone in my practice did more, it’s this one. A trainer I once had often said “You’re just one workout away from a better mood” and based on my personal experience and so much clinical research I completely agree.
Finding resilience is a practice, and life gives us plenty of opportunities. You can can choose to run or you can choose to rise.
Which of these 7 ideas resonates with you most and which do you need to put into practice?