The Power of Resilience
Resilience is the ability to successfully adapt to difficult or challenging life experiences. A person with great resilience has the capacity to withstand or to recover more quickly from difficulties. But did you know that resilience is also linked to better overall health and wellness? Regular exercise obviously builds a person’s physical resilience, but new scientific studies are showing a connection between exercise and mental resilience as well. Regular exercise can help lower your stress response and improve resilience, no matter what your age!
The secrets to resilience are not elusive. There are scientific explanations for how and why people can and should build resilience. We can all do little things to train our minds to worry less or even get distracted less. Like everything in life, building resilience is a journey.
Build Your Resilience by:
- Finding purpose
- Believing in yourself
- Developing a social network
- Embracing change
- Being optimistic
- Nurturing yourself
- Developing problem-solving skills
- Establishing goals
How to Build Physical Resilience
Starting a new exercise program or routine is not always easy, but with determination, resilience and a positive attitude, you can achieve anything. Moderate exercise can change the neurochemistry in your brain, helping you better manage stressful situations as they come up. Any aerobic exercise that gets your heart rate up can also be beneficial for stress resilience. It doesn’t have to be vigorous exercise – it could be something as simple as going for a walk, bike ride, swim, or dancing for twenty or thirty minutes.
How to Build Mental Resilience
We all want to be that person who seems unaffected by what others do and say. To help you build your mental resilience, try and take a positive perspective on situations and view challenges as learning opportunities. It is important to regulate your emotions and express your feelings in appropriate ways. Focus on the things you can control instead of dwelling on what you cannot change.
By applying your resilience to your mental and physical well-being, you will strengthen and grow your physical and mental game. We all have highs and lows in our lives, but remember we can build resilience no matter what the circumstances are. It is important to prioritize your mindset in order to improve your focus. Stay positive, enjoy life and make the most of your moments and you will naturally boost your resilience!
This article originally appeared in the Ventura Breeze.
