Challenging Times — Redefining And Embodying Resilience
Written by: Morgan Williams, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Resilience is defined as the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties, and toughness.
Several of my clients, friends, and other loved ones, have been challenged with hard times lately, and all at once, it seems. Fortunately, many of them have a toolbox full of tools, empowering them to practice resilience. This doesn’t mean that they don’t get upset, or experience hardships, suffering, disappointment, or anger. Instead, they are now able to spend less time and emotional energy dwelling in places of anxiety, hopelessness, and negativity. Not only do they understand that hard times are temporary holding places, rather than long-term residences, but more importantly they have the agency to move beyond their challenges.
What if we redefined resilience as the ability to recover from difficulties at your speed, with compassion for yourself and your process.
Resilience, at its true essence, is about healing, which may not always be quick, nor does it require “toughness”. We get to be gentle with ourselves.
Tools for resilience.
Take a break from being your own worst critic – seriously, those days are played out. You get to be your cheerleader. If not you, who?
Reframe when possible – instead of “this is happening to me”, try “this is happening for me” – whether for your growth, personal development, or something that you cannot see in the current moment. Trust that this challenge is for your highest good.
Prioritize hydration, nourishment, and rest.
Be ok with being alone and quiet. Call it meditation, call it quiet time – create space to be with your thoughts non-judgmentally.
Find a personal practice that works for you, in which you can ground and allow your central nervous system to re-regulate.
Check in with your fears. What is stopping you from moving through them? What might become possible if you do? What happens if you don’t?
Find a supportive tribe of like-minded people.
“No mud, no lotus” ‒ Thich Nhat Hanh
Sometimes beautiful flowers grow out of the mud. Perhaps you are in a “muddy spot”, just waiting to bloom. Some lessons and experiences need to take place before you flourish. Let’s redefine resilience – taking the quickness and toughness out of it.
Morgan Williams, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Morgan Williams, wear many hats and titles; however, it is the work with her own personal healing journey, which led her to the path of coaching and energy work. Morgan was a professional educator for 16 years, while running a small business for the last five. She is a single mom, to the BEST kid around, and she found herself totally burnt out. Something had to change, and it started with coming back to herself. She found yoga and coaching during this time. She remembers vividly, sitting there, paralyzed with a broken heart, and realizing that if her relationship with herself was better, no one person, could hurt her that deeply. It was her wake-up call and self-love, and true self-care was the first step and a total game-changer in her journey.
