Resilience can feel like a buzzword. It sounds really good, what does it actually mean? And even harder is figuring out how to achieve it. But resilience is what has kept people afloat during these challenging months, and it will help propel people forward. Without realizing it you have likely used one or several of the 7 Keys of resilience to overcome challenges.
Resilience is the ability to bounce back from hardship more quickly or not getting stuck when facing challenges. It isn’t the absence of struggle or pain. Nor is resilience an achievement that can be attained or a goal reached that no longer needs development, but a skill that needs to be developed. It is the ability to come out of a time of suffering, quicker easier and perhaps with growth.
On the show today we talking all about the 7 Keys to Resilience or 7 habits and disciplines that are practical simple methods that strengthen your resilience, and why learning the 7 keys that will strengthen you as a supporter and improve your ability to care for others.
By practicing these you will strengthen your ability to face adversity and bounce back more quickly. Something that would benefit us all coming out of some very difficult months.
7 KEYS TO RESILIENCE
1. Connection
Although it can be tempting to isolate in times of overwhelm, refreshing and freedom from shame comes when we connect with supporters.
That is why Staying Connected is key to Resilience.
A beautiful scripture that points to the refreshing nature of relationship is Prov. 16:24 “A kind word brings healing to the soul and healing to the body”
2. Rest
We need rest, not because we are weak. We need rest because that is God’s perfect model of work and it provides us protection. Rest not only includes physical rest, but it’s also important to recognize when you need mental, emotional, relational and spiritual rest.
Resilience is all about being able to bounce back when you face difficult times. Rest is an important piece to staying resilient.
3. Have Fun
For years I struggled with fun because what I think is fun is not typical. I’m pretty much a senior at 40. I like puzzles, reading, walking, playing the piano, and chatting with girlfriends over good food.
But I discovered that what is fun for you is perfect. There is no need to compare or evaluate or shift your fun to match others. Only what is truly fun for you will give you the benefits of joy and resilience. Find time in your daily, weekly, monthly schedule to engage in something that makes you smile
4. Meditation
Having mindfulness is making mental space on purpose to turn our whole attention to God so that we can hear and abide in His voice in our lives instead of our own judgements.
It’s intentionally focusing on God so that His voice is louder than our judgements or opinions.
As Christ-followers, our resilience is strengthened when we develop the habit of meditation by slowing our thoughts, intentionally focusing on God. This builds our ability to hear from Christ, and abide in Him throughout our day.
5. Knowing Who You Are
There is so much freedom in knowing and being confident in who God made you to be.
No one is good at everything. However, we often have the expectation that if God called us to do something we should be good at all of it.
You are fearfully and wonderfully made (Ps. 139:14) God, created you on purpose and for a purpose. No other human has ever, or will ever have your gifts and talents. Don’t be distracted by negative thoughts. Focus on the truth of who you are.
6. Boundaries
Even though they can be hard to set, they are necessary to our wellbeing. Boundaries also protect us from those who have no self-control and who wish to control us. A person with clear, healthy boundaries communicates to others what is and is not acceptable. The benefits of establishing clear boundaries will be felt in every area of your life.
7. Self-Care
The whole notion of self-care has really become popular in secular, humanistic thought. However, the concept of tending to your mental, spiritual, emotional, social and physical needs is founded in the Bible. But, like many other Biblical concepts, it has been distorted. Self-care has been found to be a core building block for surviving and thriving, and it builds resilience.
The time you spend refreshing and refuelling is time well spent because when life becomes hard and stress builds, you are facing it with a full tank because you’ve spent time refuelling.
Many of these keys will be familiar to you. They can seem almost too simplistic. We often think that if we’re facing a complex problem, or we are struggling in many areas of our lives we need to have a complex solution. But this isn’t true. By practicing these simple (but challenging) disciplines you will build resilience. You will be better equipped to cope with life’s challenges and you will find yourself bouncing back more quickly.
But trying to work on all 7 Keys is overwhelming. I encourage you to pick one key, the easiest, not the hardest, and “start where the ground is soft”. Get some quick wins and then move on to the next one. When you improve in one area you are strengthening your overall resilience.
RESOURCES
CLICK HERE for the Free cheat sheet outlining the 7 keys to resilience.
7 Keys to Resilience keychains. These are great as giveaways for those who care for others. They have been used for small groups, church giveaways, and offered in supportive counselling sessions. CLICK HERE to order yours.
PODCAST SPONSOR
Support for The Care Ministry Podcast comes from Mental Health Speakers Lab.
An online course and coaching program for clinicians that will establish you as a speaker and industry expert. Walk away with clarity of voice, an effective message and a valuable call to action to shift your one-on-one practice to global impact through digital workshops.
Go to MentalHealthSpeakersLab.com to register for the upcoming course opening.
CONNECT
Join the Church Mental Health Facebook Group! In the Facebook group, we chat about how to care for others, what are your challenges as well as share tons of resources. This is a great community of pastors, clinicians, and those with lived experience and we want to get to know you.