When Life Gives You Lemons, Practice Resilience
March 2, 2020
The clocks are changing this month and you can too. Life is always changing and, sometimes, it gets hard to keep up. Resilience is what helps you bounce back when times are tough.
What’s great about resilience is that it can teach you to improve your overall wellbeing through choosing happiness. And yes, that’s backed by science. You can train yourself to focus on the positive aspects of your life by practicing gratitude and self-care, performing random acts of kindness, and striving for a greater purpose.
Resilience Makes Life Better
When you practice resilience, you grow stronger over time. And believe it or not, your attitude does impact your health, though whether it's positively or negatively is up to you.
While the list of ways resilience positively influences physical and emotional wellbeing goes on and on, these are some of our favorites inspired by the Bounce Back Project:
- Increased self-esteem and self-reliance
- Decreased symptoms of depression and anxiety
- Less difficulty coping with emotional disruptions
- Improved ability to manage stress
- Reduced levels of burnout
- A stronger immune system and better sleep which also significantly impacts your health
Try It for Yourself
If that list of health benefits caught your attention but you find yourself wondering, “But where would I even start,” you’re not alone. Trying to form positive habits can sometimes feel confusing or difficult but don’t write this off just yet.
Like many healthy habits, becoming resilient is not a “one size fits all” practice. There are plenty of ways you can practice resilience. You just need to figure out what works for you.
Start out by trying one (or more) of these practices:
- Writing down three good things every night before bed
- Closing your eyes and picturing a time you were really happy
- Performing a random act of kindness for someone else
- Setting realistic and achievable goals
- Practicing mindfulness via meditation or breathing exercises
- Keeping a gratitude journal or using a gratitude app, like 365 Gratitude
And just like with any other type of exercise, learning to bounce back takes practice. But you’ll feel the benefits over time. If you’re in need of additional ideas for inspiration, check out Georgian Benta’s Gratitude Podcast or download these free Bounce Back Project tools.
Want to know more? Learn about what inspired the Bounce Back Project, how it’s made a difference in the lives of others, and how it can change your life too.
