Practicing Resilience in a COVID World

By Alexa Eden

There's been a lot of research done within the last several decades that has uncovered the unseen expression of resilience. And, until recently, resilience was seen as simply innate, and not able to be trained. However, over the last 40 years, studies have found that human beings, and other elements of nature, can work symbiotically to enhance their ability and speed to bounce back, and return to its naturally balanced state. 

You may have heard of the word resilience, as many people are speaking about it today. But before we go any further, let’s unpack what resilience really is. Resilience is the ability to overcome obstacles and stress, with strength and a continued sense of self. That feeling of being caught off guard, while also being able to maintain your composure, and manage your emotions. 

This trait couldn’t be more important during the times that we are living in today, seeing as each day has been presenting our world with new unimaginable surprises. 

If what has been going on in our world today, from Covid-19, to stay-in-place orders, work from home culture, inequalities, and protests has caused you to feel anywhere off your center, (which, most likely relates to everyone reading this) then you are being invited to train your resilience to unseen, and unpredicted change and adaptation.   

Being knocked off of our “normal” routines and lifestyles can have serious implications when left unnurtured. “Coping with stress in a positive way has many health benefits. It's associated with longevity, lower rates of depression, and greater satisfaction with life.” (Harvard) 

This image, from HelloDriven.com, a scientifically proven resilience assessment and improvement program, outlines the very elements of resilience in a way that outlines all of what is involved in overcoming adversity with grace and ease. 

Our ability to prioritize each of these elements in our day to day, and conscious thought  patterns leads us upright to overcoming any adversity in our path. The beauty of resilience is that it is an ever evolving process that can constantly be shaped and shifted to meet your needs. 

No matter what your motivation, being resilient is an important tool for wellbeing and success. Whether you are overcoming adversity in your career, disagreements with colleagues, the current state of affairs, or unforeseen changes in lifestyle or relationships, being resilient is the power to recenter and align yourself to your ideal self, no matter how rocky the waters may be. 

Keeping these 6 elements in mind, take a moment to reflect on how each element manifests in your life. Consider one area in your life for each element that you can bring strength to, and write down your goals as to why becoming resilient would help you get through these trying times. 

To continue the conversation, join our C3 Live sessions, with health professionals from around the world, each sharing about ways we can optimize our health and wellbeing.