Fostering Resilience

Is it your circumnstances or your attitude that determines your outlook on things?

Photo credits to Paul Horstead My generation has really been hit hard since our lives first began. I was born in the year 2000, which meant that soon after I was born the world, or at least the US, was going through an economic crisis, experiencing terrorist attacks, various diseases that spread across the world, and the global climate crisis. We’ve also experienced school shootings, extremely high rates of anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. In my high school of probably less than 250 students, I knew a few kids who died from either health conditions or suicide, and the saddest part is this situation is not that uncommon across the country.

Not to mention everything that this last year has brought with the coronavirus that has swept across the world and changed everyone’s reality. This past year was tough. We went through a collaborative loss as a global community both with people who died, loves who were lost, and so many dreams and goals that weren’t accomplished. I know many students who decided to take the semester or the year off, as they found it too hard to focus with their studies and try to deal with everything that was going on in the world at the same time. Others, like myself, tried to throw themselves back into school and work to regain some semblance of normality or distract from the surrounding stress.

Everyone has a different way of dealing with hardship. Some people are almost over productive as they try to do every single thing possible to fill up their time, to not feel their true feelings, or get lost in their thoughts, but instead get lost in checking off the boxes were doing things that society says is correct. Others shut down, and all they want to do is crawl into a ball and cry and forget about the world. Others get angry and shout and scream at the injustice in the universe. Some just stop entirely.

So how can we, not just my generation, but everyone who has experienced hardships in their life foster resilience? A way to combat the loneliness, the isolation, and moments of pain. When it feels like the world is ending and nothing will ever be the same, that there is no hope for the future, and that things will never get better again. How can we find hope? In the darkness where is the light?

there are plenty of self-help books out there that will tell you to write daily gratitude‘s, to meditate, to exercise, to eat well, to call a friend, do you focus on the positives, and so many other things. And while a lot of that is good advice, it doesn’t always help.With the new year, I’m sure many people will be making resolutions and expecting things to change for the better almost instantly. But life doesn’t work that way.

While the vaccine brings hope, it’s going to take time, making these next few months crucial for how the virus is going to end up. So as it goes with New Years resolutions, I suggest taking a similar approach with treating the virus and these difficult quarantimes. Take small steps. Build systems that work. Understand that life isn’t perfect. Prepare for setbacks and bad days, deal with them when they happen, and understand that it’s not the end. Do something every day that makes you happy. Find ways to rest and heal. Try to bring hope and joy to yourself and others if you can, this world needs more love.