Written by: Adam Markel, 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.
Our ability to utilize adversity and bounce forward from difficult life events – our resilience – has been called into action quite a bit over the last few years. We’ve all been through a lot, individually and collectively, which brings a very important question to the forefront. How can we be more resilient, right now?
As “The Resilience Guy” I decided it was fitting to come up with 5 things you can start doing right now, to become more resilient and better equipped to handle the challenges life will inevitably continue to throw your way.
Are you resilient?
Before we jump into that, let’s take a quick look at a breakdown of resilience and its markers. In my book Change Proof, I outline the 14 markers of resilience that have been identified by researchers over the years. As you read a few of these, you will begin to see how simple it is, not only to understand resilience, but also to see where you stand in your own resilience journey.
Do you routinely take time to recharge and refresh?
Do you accept feedback, learn from it or try to apply it to your life?
Are you flexible? Are you willing to change directions as life pivots around you?
These are a few key indicators linked to more resilient people and practices we should all be employing in our daily lives. All of these point to someone who is truly willing to embrace the unknown, which isn’t easy. However, much like a muscle, the more you use your resilience skills, the stronger they become and the easier it becomes to lean into
this way of life.
Five things you can do to become more resilient right now
Let’s dig into the simple actions you can take to grow that resilience muscle and become someone who flows with life’s myriad changes.
Redefine Resilience: Resilience is more about recovery than it is about grit. We can only take so many hits before we’re down for the count. So when you think about resilience, I want you to think about it as recovery and resetting.
Build Rituals: Mentally, spiritually, emotionally and physically, you should have daily practices or rituals as I like to call them. Think of this like making daily deposits into your resilience bank. When your balance goes up, you feel less stress and more clarity. Schedule recovery time before and after meetings, even if it’s a five-minute break. Get outside for a walk or just take time to breathe and shift into neutral. Or one of my personal favorites, take time to weave thoughts of gratitude into your day. The more you do this intentionally, the more you will find yourself subconsciously doing it as well. It could be something as simple as this: That meeting went really well. I’m so thankful my team showed up for me today.
Practice Proactivity: Build resilience before you need it. When life is really breathing down our necks, it can be tricky to employ new good habits or rituals. But if these are already part of our lives, it’s much easier to lean into them when we need to. Imagine how much less stress you will have in your life when resilience practices are your default versus fight-or-flight.
Be A Model: Modeling resilience for those around you creates an environment and culture where this is the norm. This not only supports your people and teams but it also reinforces the work you are doing for yourself.
Be Consistent: It might take more effort in the beginning but just like any new habit, once you’re dialed in, it simply becomes your way of life. Show up for yourself daily, using these tips and you will see incredible change internally and externally.
Uncertainty is the new certainty. None of us can really say we know what’s around the corner. We’ve been on a doozy of a ride and I can only imagine that will continue to be true. The silver lining in all of this is that we are also being presented with unending opportunities to grow and become better versions of ourselves daily. I’ve been doing this a long time and I am thankful to have been witness to so many success stories and lives changed through resilience.
Adam Markel, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Bestselling author, keynote speaker, workplace expert and resilience researcher Adam Markel inspires leaders to master the challenges of massive disruption in his new book, “Change Proof — Leveraging the Power of Uncertainty to Build Long-Term Resilience” (McGraw-Hill, Feb. 22, 2022). Adam is author of the 1 Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Los Angeles Times, and Publisher’s Weekly bestseller, “Pivot: The Art & Science of Reinventing Your Career and Life.” Learn more at AdamMarkel.com.
