Pearl Nash
Are you feeling down lately? Thinking that you’re not as strong as you should be? Well, let me tell you right away – you’re probably wrong! Resilience is a skill we all have within us, even if we don’t realize it.
It’s that strength within us that helps us bounce back from setbacks, keep going when things get tough, and come out even stronger on the other side.
So, you don’t think you can get back up and fight again? I don’t think so.
In this article, I’ll give you ten signs that you’re more resilient than you give yourself credit for. So sit back and let’s dive into it!
1) You always bounce back from setbacks
I think the best way to think about resilience is this quote from author Jodi Picoult: “”The human capacity for burden is like bamboo – far more flexible than you’d ever believe at first glance.”
Have you ever faced a challenge that left you feeling defeated? We all have! But if you have the ability to bounce back from setbacks, it’s a sign that you’re more resilient than you give yourself credit for.
I’ll give you an example. When the pandemic happened, the whole world stopped. Lots of people lost their jobs and businesses. Unfortunately, I was one of them.
Of course, that plunged me into a depression. I’d dedicated so many years to building my business, but it could not withstand the two-year-long crisis.
I’d love to say I bounced back quickly. I didn’t. It took me eight long months to figure out what I wanted to do next. But bounce back I did! I learned new skills that enabled me to pursue a different career.
Today, when I look back at that time, I’m just so amazed at how everything unfolded the way it did.
And I’m not talking about just my own story. I’m completely in awe of everyone who weathered the pandemic and found a way to survive.
This brings me to my next point…
2) You are adaptable
See, the only way we can survive the storms that come is to adapt. Life is unpredictable and chaotic; things don’t always go according to plan.
If you have the ability to adapt to new situations and make the best of them, it’s a sign that you’re going to survive.
During the pandemic, one word stood out for me as I was reading through articles and news updates – “pivot.”
At first, all I could think of was Ross Geller shouting, “Pivot!” at Rachel and Chandler on the show Friends as they tried to move a new couch up to his apartment.
Like Chandler, I was perplexed – “What do you mean by pivot?” – but eventually, I saw that, really, there’s no other choice. When something isn’t working, we have to adapt.
After all, that’s exactly what Darwin’s theory of evolution states.
Think about it. Evolution is all about adaptation and survival of the fittest, right? Well, the same can be said for resilience.
But you’ll only realize it if you have one other important element – self-awareness.
3) You are self-aware
Here’s the deal: you can’t adapt or change if you don’t understand your own emotions, thoughts, and behaviors.
But if you can reflect on your own experiences and learn from them, it’s a sign that you’re more resilient than you give yourself credit for.
One thing that really helped me when I was down in the dumps was journaling.
When I started writing down my thoughts and emotions daily, I discovered something – I had a tendency to dwell on negative thoughts and to take things too personally.
I realized that this was contributing to my feelings of helplessness and despair; no wonder I was finding it hard to get back up!
But once I became aware of this pattern, I was able to start changing it. More importantly, I could reframe things more positively.
4) You have a positive outlook
If you can look at things in a more positive light, then that’s fantastic! You’re already more resilient than you think!
A positive outlook can really go a long way in helping you overcome difficulties. Seeing the silver lining in tough situations — that’s really the key to bouncing back up. After all, if you have nothing to look forward to, you won’t want to get out of bed!
When I lost my job during the pandemic, I could have easily fallen into despair. Well, actually, I did for a while, to be honest.
But after a period of wallowing in self-pity, I started looking for tiny glimmers of hope. For the light at the end of the tunnel and all that.
I started thinking, hey, now’s a good time to learn new skills! I’ve got nothing else to do!
So I focused on the opportunity to start a new chapter in my career and eventually landed a job that I love.
A positive mindset really shows just how resilient we all are when we need to be, especially when we pair that with an openness to asking and receiving help from other people.
5) You know how to ask for help
Contrary to what you might think, asking for help is not a sign of weakness. In fact, it takes lots of courage to admit that you need help.
If you can do this, you’re more resilient than you give yourself credit for.
I’d always thought of resilience as something that meant being tough and handling everything on your own. But all that did for me was make me feel lonely and afraid.
Because the truth is, as much as we’d like to think we can do it all on our own, we can’t.
Fortunately, I learned how to ask for help, and now, I know just how valuable it is to have the support of the people around you.
6) You have a support system
Having a support system is crucial when facing difficult times. If you have people in your life that you can count on, trust me, you’re going to bounce back even if you don’t think you can’t.
Your support system can make all the difference. No matter how strong you are, there are just those times when you feel like can’t go it anymore.
But if you’ve got good people around you, they won’t let you suffer alone.
Nope, they won’t let you wring your hands in despair. They’ll give you pep talks and whatever help you need, anything to knock you to your senses and help you get back up!
7) You are persistent
And once you’re back in the ring, you’re ready to fight again!
Resilience is marked by a drive to keep going even when things get tough. Do you have this drive? Then you’re already more resilient than you think!
See, persistence and resilience are two sides of the same coin. They both involve the ability to keep going in the face of adversity, and they both help us achieve our goals and overcome challenges.
8) You practice self-care
Ah, self-care. It’s often a buzzword in the health and wellness industry, but really, it’s essential in developing resilience.
If you can still prioritize your own well-being and practice self-care even when you don’t want to, then things are looking up for you.
All too often, we neglect self-care when we feel down. But it’s a vicious cycle – the more you don’t take care of yourself, the more awful you feel.
That’s why, whenever I feel particularly stressed, I make sure to take breaks, exercise, and eat a healthy diet. These small acts of self-care help me feel better and give me the energy to tackle my challenges.
9) You have a sense of humor
Speaking of feeling better, we’ve got to talk about humor.
Look, life isn’t easy, that’s for sure. But if you can laugh at yourself and your situation, believe me, you won’t be feeling down for long.
That’s because laughter helps us shift our focus away from our problems and onto something positive. It triggers those happy chemicals called endorphins, which boost our mood and give us a sense of hope.
That way, we can find joy in even the most challenging situations and remember that there’s always something to be grateful for.
10) You are grateful
Finally, we get to this important ingredient for bouncing back. I don’t know if you’ve heard this before, but gratitude is the key to happiness.
If you can feel grateful for what you have, even when times are tough, it’s a sign that you’re more resilient than you give yourself credit for.
Remember when I talked about journaling? One other thing I wrote down in my journal was a list of all the things I was grateful for, such as my health, my family, and my friends.
During dark times, thinking about these blessings helps me shift my focus from what I don’t have to what I do have. And you know what? It’s always more than what I think it is!
Final thoughts
Challenges are a part of life, and it’s how we handle them that determines our strength. You already have that secret superpower – resilience – to help you turn challenges into opportunities for growth and learning.
And the best part? It’s not something you’re born with or without. It’s a skill you can develop and strengthen over time, with practice and perseverance.
So, if you ever feel like you’re not as strong as you should be, remember these wise words from Gloria Gaynor: “I’ve got all my life to live / And I’ve got all my love to give, and I’ll survive!”
