O The Places You'll Go... Or Not
The importance of building resilience into your life and how you can get there.
You’ll come down from the Lurch with an unpleasant bump. And the chances are, then, that you’ll be in a Slump.
And when you’re in a Slump, you’re not in for much fun. Un-slumping yourself is not easily done.
This morning before camp, my son came down with O, The Places You’ll go by Dr. Seuss, one of my favorite books as a kid, and reading this wonderful book bring up one of my favorite topics, Resilience.
Regardless of who you are and where you are, your life is probably hard. There are things at home, in your work or with friends or hobbies that don’t go as you planned or aren’t where you’d like them to be. This is a big part of life and you know what?
It’s ok.
Life is supposed to be hard at times and the best way to deal with it is how you can give yourself grace and bounce back.
Today, we learn about resilience.
Resilience is the ability to bounce back, adapt, and recover from setbacks, challenges, or difficult circumstances. It involves maintaining mental, emotional, and physical strength in the face of adversity, allowing individuals to persevere and thrive even in the most trying situations. Resilience is not an innate trait; rather, it is a skill that can be cultivated over time.
It's about embracing change and seeing challenges as opportunities for growth rather than insurmountable obstacles. Resilient individuals are not immune to hardships; they simply respond to them differently, using setbacks as stepping stones toward achieving their goals.
But on you will go though the weather be foul. On you will go though your enemies prowl. On you will go though the Hakken-Kraks howl. Onward up many a frightening creek, though your arms may get sore and your sneakers may leak. On and on you will hike. And I know you’ll hike far and face up to your problems whatever they are.
Here are a few helpful ways to build up resilience.
Grittiness
The ability to maintain sustained effort and determination in the pursuit of challenging objectives, even in the face of obstacles, setbacks, or failures. Gritty individuals are driven, resilient, and possess a strong inner motivation to keep going, no matter the difficulties encountered along the way. You can do it, these are speed bumps.
For more here, digging in with Angela Duckworth is a great next step: https://angeladuckworth.com/grit-book/.
Self-Compassion
Treat yourself with the same kindness and understanding you would offer a friend facing a difficult time. Acknowledge your emotions and be gentle with yourself during challenging moments. Forgiving yourself is the first step to helping you move forward.
Practice Mindfulness Techniques
Engage in activities that promote relaxation, such as meditation, yoga, or spending time in nature. These practices can help reduce stress and enhance emotional resilience.
Yoga every day is a practice that I started again at the end of March and outside of its health benefits, it has allowed me to center myself more. Yoga with Adriene is a great place to get started.
Embrace Failure as a Stepping Stone
When we acknowledge failure as a natural part of the learning process, we free ourselves from the fear of making mistakes. Instead of being discouraged, we see each failure as an opportunity to gain valuable insights, refine our strategies, and grow stronger. Embracing failure cultivates resilience, encourages experimentation, and fosters a growth-oriented mindset.
By learning from our mistakes, we can make more informed decisions, develop better problem-solving skills, and become more adaptable in the face of challenges. So I challenge you, journal for five to ten minutes on that one thing you wish you did better and write down what you learned.
Foster Flexibility
Life rarely follows a linear path, and unexpected twists and turns are bound to occur. When we remain rigid and resistant to change, we risk becoming overwhelmed and frustrated by the constant disruptions. Flexibility empowers us to embrace change as a natural part of life, making us more open-minded, adaptable, and receptive to new possibilities.
By cultivating flexibility, we can maintain our resilience and overcome obstacles that come our way.
Taking a note from the good doctor again…
Kid, you’ll move mountains!
So…be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray
Or {Insert your name here} (I do this with my kids every time we read it!)
or Mordecai Ale Van Allen O’Shea, you’re off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So…get on your way!
Have a great day and keep learning!