In the early stages of any crisis, our brains release chemicals that help us react and cope. This is intended to be temporary. and exists to give us the push we sometimes need to get through really hard things. In early 2020, we sprung to action. As time dragged on, however, action became harder. Coping became more of a struggle as we passed the one-year mark and began to move through 2021. The weight of the pandemic become heavier. This change occurred because a sustained crisis looks different in the brain than a short-lived one, and the tools we need to navigate it are also different.
In early 2020, we sprung to action.
Resiliency has played a huge role in the maintenance of mental health in the face of a global pandemic, but what exactly is resiliency? Put simply, resiliency isn’t about what happens to us, it’s about how we react. It’s the ability to bounce back from adversity and productively navigate what life throws our way. For some, resiliency is a God-given talent. For others, it requires more effort. Regardless of where a person begins, however, it is a learnable quality and every- one has the ability to become resilient.
Resiliency is not one thing consisting of just one skill, rather it is a collection of six qualities that, when combined, make a person resilient.
Resiliency is not one thing consisting of just one skill, rather it is a collection of six qualities that, when combined, make a person resilient. In order to improve our resiliency, we can intentionally work on developing in these six areas. Those qualities are: Self-Awareness, Self-Regulation, Optimism, Mental Agility, Character Strengths, and Connection.
Resiliency can be a life-long journey.
If you aren’t sure where to begin, consider activities that help create balance in one of the six areas. Keeping a gratitude journal, as an example, is one way to build optimism through balance because it reminds our subconscious brain that there are good things that exist in our lives right alongside the bad things. Learn more about Meridian Behavioral Healthcare, our Master Resilience Trainers, and resiliency in general, please call Laura Holley, Meridian’s Director of Prevention, at 352-374-5600 ext. 8068
