All of us go through times that test our mental well-being, and lots of of us find ourselves completely overwhelmed at least once in our lives. What matters, though, is how we respond when things are challenging and whether we restore our resilience when situations are easier.
Resilience is the ability to face routine challenges and bounce back from exceptional ones. Exactly what does it take to create real, lasting resilience?
It requires more than diet, exercise, or meditation: It involves attending to our whole selves. (To learn how you currently score on caring for your well-being, take the resilience quiz below.)
Take an all natural View
Body. We start with the body because imbalances in nutrient absorption or biorhythms will affect brain chemistry. Keep in mind that we are all built differently there isn’t a single formula that works for everyone. What foods are most nourishing for you personally? What kind of movement works best for the body? Learn to live in rhythm with your personal nature.
Mind. Your thoughts can cause trouble if you believe every thought to be true. It’s human instinct to see what’s wrong, so it’s simple to perceive your circumstances (or yourself) to become much worse than they really are. Train your mind by placing your attention wherever you would like it to be and bringing it back whenever it wanders off. Notice your tendency to evaluate things negatively and allow that to go as best you can. Slow down, do one thing at a time, and notice what is happening right now. That is mindfulness.
Heart. When you feel threatened or hurt, it’s natural for your heart to shut down. But you have to open up again if you prefer a genuine connection with others. Cultivate an open heart by practicing gratitude for that good things in your life, compassion on your own, and kindness toward others.
Soul. If you view the soul as the deepest sense of who we are, what we love, and why we are here. Soul is what guides us to become fully ourselves and to live a meaningful life. We must first accept that we have this inner life, and then nd the time and stillness to hear it. And then, importantly, we have to act on these inner urgings.
Body, mind, heart, and soul — deal with any one and you’ll feel good. Attend to all four and you’ll flourish.
Test Your Resilience
To understand where to begin boosting your resilience, rate yourself on the statements below from 1 (hardly ever) to 5 (nearly always). Choose 3 if it's true more often than not.
1. I allow enough time to eat and mostly choose healthy foods.
2. I enjoy moving my body virtually every day.
3. I seldom feel rushed and, after i do, I intentionally decelerate.
4. I try to keep my attention on only one thing at a time.
5. I allow myself to feel our emotions – the “good” and the “bad.”
6. I don't worry when my mood gets down because I know how to bring it back up.
7. I know of my thoughts and I don't think all of them.
8. I like myself as I am (even if I could use some improvement).
9. I am grateful for how many people support and take care of me.
10. I pause most days to see and really be with nature.
Any score over 25 means you're doing pretty well. A score of 3 and above on a statement indicates a strength. A score of 1 or 2 indicates you need more attention in that area. Work to improve those areas and greater resilience and well-being follows.