Resilience: Make It Good, Before it gets Bad!
What is resilience? According to Google, resilience is defined as “the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness.” Some key words in that definition are recover, quickly, difficulties, and toughness. So let’s think about it, RECOVERY, QUICKNESS, DIFFICULTIES, and TOUGHNESS. Having resilience helps us work through difficult situations, recover from difficult experiences, and thrive beyond them. We often learn from these experiences and shape how we respond in similar situations in the future. Resilience is vital to wellness.
My daughter made a statement, “Make it good, before it gets bad”. I was thinking, what a profound thing for an 11 year old to say. She made the statement in regards to cleaning and organizing a house, but I realized this can be applied to many aspects of life. I was thinking about how having a “make it good before it gets bad” mentality can lead to resiliency. So many times, I have wanted to stop and give up. Chronic depression, anxiety, and symptoms of PTSD have often overwhelmed me. Managing mental health symptoms can be a major barrier to resiliency, if not addressed. I lived life knowing something was wrong, but it wasn’t until I had written my first suicide note, that I knew I needed to seek help. My mental health was getting bad, so I had to make it good! I sought psychiatry (2018) and that was the beginning of a better me.
These past year has tested my resiliency. There were so many moments when I felt as if I could not recover from the many obstacles I faced. I definitely did not feel that I could recover quick enough to continue moving forward. Imposter syndrome has been in my way. Imposter syndrome has often led to self-doubt, avoidance, procrastination, and just sinking deeper. MAKE IT GOOD BEFORE IT GETS BAD! I remind myself, Kierystan, you are capable. You can bounce back! Don’t give up. Make progress and get the task done!
I have learned the value of having a support system. I have often felt that I was walking life’s journey alone. I do not easily trust people. I have been let down a lot, in the past. I have met a few people over this year, that has shown me that I do not have to walk life’s journey alone. I can trust people. I will be okay. Having and accepting the support has contributed to my resiliency.
Recovery
The cares of life can become overwhelming. Whether you’re a parent, a student, a friend, an employee, an entrepreneur, etc. the demands of life can begin to pile up. Remember, if you feel as if you are sinking, take a breath and make a realistic plan. You are resilient and can recover. Remember, any effort towards progress, is better than no progress! Small steps forward will ultimately lead to the completion of your goal!
Quickness
Remember the mantra, Make it good before it gets bad. You can recover quickly, by making the necessary actions to move forward. If you do not work toward overcoming obstacles, you may remain in a stagnant frame of mind.
Difficulty
Some situations may feel impossible to get through, but with making intentional decisions and thinking critical, you can overcome life’s barriers. Be mindful in acknowledging the obstacle at hand. Do not ignore or avoid the issue, plan to tackle the issue head on. Don’t be ashamed to ask for help and be willing to accept help that is offered. Having support helps with bouncing back from obstacles. This is also a good time to put your coping skills in action.
Toughness
You are able to withstand the obstacles you face. As long as you tell yourself that you will overcome, you will. It is all about reframing your thinking. Think positively and think about the lessons learned along the way and the task of getting on track will not feel as tedious.
Remember, to Make it good before it gets bad! You are resilient. You can overcome!
