Weekly Prompt #41: How do you perceive your own resilience and ability to cope with challenges?
Hello all,
I hope you are all being easy on yourself this week.
A few weeks ago we discussed: How does your depression affect your ability to care about and take care of others? Thank you to all who participated and shared their thoughts and questions for discussion. They were thought-provoking questions and thoughts. I hope you all did too. If you didn't share yours, please share them here and I look forward to reading and discussing them with you
This week's prompt: How do you perceive your resilience and ability to cope with challenges?
To perceive your resilience and ability to cope with challenges, you can reflect on your past experiences, identify your strengths, ways to embrace a positive mindset etc. Let's get started and share your thoughts with us. I look forward to hearing all your thoughts and ideas.
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@ASilentObserver My perception of resilience stems from the way we adapt and react to adversities and setbacks. It's the inner strength we find and build over time. It's also the refusal to let moments that cause us stress to break our resolve and spirit.
I completely agree with you Obs! In order to perceive one’s resilience and the ability to cope with challenges, we can reflect on our past experience and ways to embrace a positive mindset. ⭐
One way I do this is by practicing optimism. I try to cultivate optimism daily with the practice of mindfulness meditation and gratitude journaling. I’ve found this immensely helpful in helping to cope with challenging situations and setbacks.
Thank you for your wonderful post. 💓
@GentleHealingInitiative Thank you for sharing Gentle. I am glad you have some great strategies for building resilience. Mindfulness meditation and gratitude journaling is helpful to shift your perspective and build your ability to cope with difficult situations. How has practicing optimism helped you in the past when faced with challenges?
@ASilentObserver Thank you for your lovely question. Cultivating optimism has helped me immensely in the past when faced with adversities.
I’ve found myself more resilient to stress, and as you stated, I had a shift in my perspective. I started viewing challenges as chances for personal development and opportunities for growth (as opposed to overwhelming hurdles).
I appreciate your post, Obs! ⭐
@ASilentObserver I just joined this community and thought I would give this a shot.
I don't really know who my resilance helps me navigate problems. In the past, I have done well managing stressful situations simply by talking about them. However, it is hard to discuss issues when you feel you are the only one who sees things the way you do. It's lonely sometimes. I have found journaling to be a very helpful too when I begin to feel that way.
I often wonder what resiliance means. Is it flexibility or strength? Or both? Some people learn to compartmentalise, some find ways to channel negative emotions what arise from situations we find challenging, some find journaling very helpful (I am one of those people). For me, though, the biggest thing is trying to keep in mind that very few things remain unchanged, and I can take small steps to make a positive change or, if I don't have it in me at the time, avoid making the situation worse by additing to the challenge with harsh self-criticism and destructive behaviour.
@Healtogether702 I am glad you developed some really valuable strategies for coping with difficult situations. I agree resilience involve both flexibility and strength, and it is good you able to draw upon different approaches depending on what's needed. How do you think these skills may serve you as you navigate the challenges ahead?
@ASilentObserver
I don't know if I can call that skills. I guess that for me it is picking my batyles, where to take a stand and where to be flexible. I think perhaps that will hopefully help me know when to expand my energy and throw everything into a challenge and when to sit out the storm
@ASilentObserver
I perceive my own resilience as being rather fragile at the moment. Which is troublesome because I have never thought that even through some very trying times. THIS *** came out of nowhere. I did 3 tours in Iraq and never had a problem. And no problems with anxiety or depression for years after honorable separation. I recently started having panic attacks and feeling really sad. I took a very demanding job a couple of years ago that I think is contributing. So I'm torn. Do I take the mental health hit and keep providing for my family? Or do I blow up my life for my own sanity?