The Perfect Resiliency Companion

We talk a lot about the importance and benefits of maintaining our resilience, especially from a wellbeing perspective. However, I think ‘resourcefulness’ is not used enough in this arena – especially when life throws those curved balls and unexpected challenging times our way.

This thought came from a friend who is going through exactly that kind of situation, making her everyday life, however temporary, an obstacle course to either jump over or go round. I was just struck by the fortitude with which she both accepted her situation and found ways through the obstacles.

Challenging times will inevitably throw up the need to change how we do things – habits that have been a part of our life for a considerable time and are ingrained in our actions and activities each day.

Suddenly we are conscious that what we normally do won’t work.

The first part is accepting that, followed by the need to take action. Resourcefulness lies in HOW we make changes in a conscious, purposeful way that may feel foreign but which fit the new circumstances. You could say it’s problem solving, which is an important characteristic of resiliency.

However, for me, sometimes there is a need for something more – problem solving with a flexible/adaptive mindset together with solutions or strategies with a creative, imaginative twist.

Resourcefulness enables you to step into the new reality so that it causes less stress and/or anxiety and provides a sense of having some control over what might otherwise be a very difficult and upsetting situation.  And, in the spirit of resiliency, you could in fact say that “making a plan to go through, round or jump over” can be a very positive and satisfying activity.

Learning to adapt to changing circumstances is important in lives that keep moving in new or different directions. Because of this, resilience AND resourcefulness are perfect companions in helping us, in some measure, accept and navigate a change in circumstance – and perhaps even give us a sense of pride in our ingenuity. And, who knows…these new actions or strategies may become new habits even when the need that created them no longer exists.

Can you think of anyone who you have admired, not just for their resilience, but for showing great resourcefulness to maintain their resilience and wellbeing?