possibility…

Photo: Kevin Connors

We’re approaching mid-January and I’ve been thinking of that old Greek philosopher, Heraclitus. It’s hard to imagine that way back in his day (he lived from 540 BC – 480 BC), things were unsettled enough to prompt his famous quote: “Nothing endures but change.” But when you think about it, Heraclitus and I may well have shared similar types of stress: employment uncertainty, a topsy-turvy economic climate, and wild weather for example.

I’ve decided to write a cheat sheet or “helpful tips list” for the year. I’m calling it “50 Ways to Be Resilient.” [Yes, inspired by Paul Simon's "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover."] Each week I’ll add a new Change-ability Tip. Feel free to comment or contact me with your stories about navigating the stresses of life. If I collect enough, we could have enough for a new tip every day!

Here’s my first Change-ability Tip:
Recognize that we are all resilient. The American Psychological Association defines resilience as the ability to bounce back from set-backs, stress, threats, or loss. Research shows that resilience is not reserved for extraordinary people–everyone is resilient. When we’re looking adversity in the face, it’s normal for us to fear that we’re not strong enough to survive or that we’ll never recover. Begin with the knowledge that we are much more change-able than we think. Starting from this perspective help us recognize and reach out for the help that we need to move into the future. It’s similar to not knowing how much we know until we begin to discuss, plan, and engage. We know much more than we think we do … and we are much more resilient than we think are!.

Watch for Change-ability Tip #2 next week.