If you have experienced a traumatic event, you may have asked yourself, “How can I move forward from this?” The answer is building resilience. Resiliency is more than the ability to bounce back—it’s a transformational quality built over time, allowing a person to adapt, adjust and thrive in the face of adversity.
United Way of Greater Lehigh Valley launched Resilient Lehigh Valley as part of its commitment to mental health. Our organization is dedicated to creating a more trauma-informed community, and a key part of that is building a more resilient community. In our 10 years of existence, we’ve trained nearly 3,500 individuals in resiliency practices, including educators, parents, healthcare workers, law enforcement and nonprofits.
The American Psychological Association says that resilience is developed when a person has emotional, mental and behavioral flexibility and the ability to move forward despite their trauma. It’s a multifaceted trait that aids in preserving social relationships, living by your values and regulating strong emotions. Resilience helps a person see past their problems and enjoy life to the fullest.
This all sounds great on paper, but what does it take to build resilience? Luckily for you, there are many proven ways to build resilience over time. Promoting resilience takes work and problem-solving to discover which methods are most effective for you. Here are just a few that have worked for others:
- Social support: Staying connected to those closest to you is always a good idea. Strong relationships will help foster feelings of safety and comfort, even in the hard moments. It also could be a great time to build new relationships. Friends and family, old and new, are critical to feeling like you’re not alone.
- Mindfulness: Dedicating time to care for your mind and be present with your thoughts might be daunting, but working through them and understanding what they mean will help you build resilience. Journaling, meditation and simple thought exercises throughout your day will help you stay present and process your feelings, big and small.
- Self-care: In combination with healthy social relationships, self-care is critical to build resilience. There are hundreds of ways to engage in self-care, whether it’s reading a book, practicing a healthy sleep schedule, getting outside or revisiting old hobbies. If you aren’t sure what self-care looks like for you, take this opportunity to try new things and discover what helps you thrive.
- Develop a growth mindset: A growth mindset is all about the way you frame your thoughts and experiences. Rather than seeing challenges as a setback, see them as an opportunity to learn and grow. Focus on the parts of your life that you can control and improve as you move forward. This will take effort, but these small mindset changes can make a profound positive impact and build resilience.
- Engage with your community: Feeling connected to your community is more important to building resilience than you might expect. When you volunteer for a local cause, join a support group or even visit a new shop on Main Street, you build your sense of belonging and purpose. Communities help their members build resilience every day by simply showing up for one another.
- Seek professional support: It is always okay to ask for help. Building resilience after trauma is difficult, and the assistance of mental health professionals can certainly lighten that load. The right therapists or psychiatrists can help you move forward and continue to live a full, meaningful and resilient life.
If you’re interested in discovering the current state of your resilience, you can take this self-assessment. Scores on this test, both high and low, are useful in identifying your strengths as well as areas for growth in your resiliency journey.
Resilience is not a fixed trait. You can build your resilience and find your path forward with effort and practice. On the personal and community levels, resilience is cultivated through supportive relationships, compassion and a focus on hope and healing. At Resilient Lehigh Valley, we are fully committed to building a resilient community and helping residents feel more successful, safer and healthier. Discover the steps we’re taking here.
