Looking through my window, I see the snow that fell yesterday and how it covers the streets and the trees, and I think how beautiful and peaceful it seems. On the other hand, I remember how difficult this year has been for everyone around the World. Then, I begin to think about how strong human beings are and how we can overcome any complications when we develop resilience.   

What is resilience? According to Psychology Today, “Resilience is the psychological quality that allows some people to be knocked down by life’s adversities and come back at least as strong as before. Rather than letting difficulties, traumatic events, or failure overcome them and drain their resolve, highly resilient people find a way to change course, emotionally heal, and continue moving toward their goals.”  

Resilience is how individuals adapt to their surroundings to survive difficult situations. There are attributes that help us pull through harsh times, and we could not endure these life changes without having resilience and the capacity to adapt to our environment. Throughout history, people have been surviving difficult times, wars, hunger, and sickness. We may seem fragile and easy to disrupt, but we are not. We are like a chameleon that transforms and changes all the time, which is an excellent skill because it helps us to change and adapt to any situation.  

Some useful adaptation skills are:

1. Maintaining friendships: social people can survive any adversity better than those who isolated themselves.  

2. Being flexible: flexible people are able to accept and face a challenge. Individuals who tend to try to control others have a high-stress level.  

3. Act: Change what you can by acting, for example, get help, learning coping skills, change what you can.

4. And the most important thing that we cannot forget: taking care of ourselves and remembering that self-care is not being selfish is being ready to take care of others. I always remind my clients that you cannot give what you do not have because we cannot be empty vessels.  

During this time, do not forget to look for help, get emotional support, increase self-care, and focus on the aspects of the situation under your control, which can help you weather almost any storm because, in the end, you are a survivor. 

If you need help during this time, contact your therapist, your county crisis intervention, 911, or go to the nearest hospital if it is an emergency. Keep safe, and on behalf of myself and Connected Family Services, I want to wish you Merry Christmas!

References 

Resilience | Psychology Today United Kingdom. http://cdn.psychologytoday.com/gb/basics/resilience