Resilience is the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats or significant sources of stress.

After navigating through a series of events, I realized there were some things that can make all the difference.

Use your faith . . . it’s the weapon that helps you win the battle! You have to speak words of faith to counteract the fear, doubt, and uncertainty you feel. It changes what you tell yourself about what is happening to you.

When things are constantly changing and there are a lot of unknowns, faith gives you the foundation to stand on. It lifts you beyond your emotions and clears you mind to make decisions.

Decide where you have to put the majority of your time and energy . . . our culture has convinced us that we can do it all and we can do it all well. There are times when you have to dedicate yourself to the one thing that’s the most important. When I made the decision to step away from work to support my father through his illness, I felt relieved and a lot less stressed because I could be fully present and focused.  I did not feel weak or feel like I didn’t measure up because I made that choice – I felt strong with more control and stability in my life. 

Accept help and support from the people who love you . . . there is nothing more important than having people in your life that you can rely on and trust. They anticipate and offer you what you need before you even know you need it, and they make themselves available without question.

I’ve found that you need a pretty diverse group – because what you need at different stages of the journey is different. Sometimes I needed “the encourager” who had a word to lift me up just when I needed it, or “the mom” who didn’t mince words to make sure that I took care of myself and drew some boundaries, or the “do-er” who gave me an extra pair of hands to help me get things done.

Encourage and show appreciation to others . . . when you shift your thoughts and emotions to focus on others, it renews you. I was sensitive to what was happening around me – not just what was happening to me. I recognized  the power of saying thank you, when I admired something – I didn’t hesitate to say so, and when I felt someone needed a lift – I shared a kind word.

Every one of us will face challenges – some we anticipate and others we’re not prepared for.  We can do better than just survive and endure, we can emerge stronger.  

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