The media sometimes makes it look so easy to be a teenager; everyone is laughing, hanging out with friends and wearing exactly the right clothes. But in reality you know that life can sometimes be pretty tough. We all face problems, ranging from being bullied to experiencing tragedy or hardship in the family. Why is it that sometimes people can go through really rough times and still bounce back? The difference is that those who bounce back are putting into practice their resilience skills. Resilience isn’t something you are born with – it’s something you can learn.
You probably know by now resilience means “bouncing back” from difficult experiences, but more importantly, you should also be aware that resilience is the process of adapting well in the face of hardship, trauma, or stressful situations, such as family and relationship problems. Research shows that in most cases, resilience is ordinary, not extraordinary. But being resilient doesn’t mean that a person doesn’t experience difficulty or emotional pain and sadness at all. In fact, the road to resilience is likely to involve some emotional distress. Resilience is not a trait that people either have or done have. It involves behaviours, thoughts and actions that anyone can learn and develop. Following are tips to building resilience.
- Make connections
- Help your child by having him or her help others
- Maintain a daily routine
- Take a break
- Teach your child self-care
- Move toward your goals
- Nurture a positive self-view
- Keep things in perspective and maintain a hopeful outlook
- Look for opportunities for self-discovery
- Accept that change is part of living
For further information and tips please visit the following sites.
https://www.apa.org/helpcenter/resilience
https://healthyfamilies.beyondblue.org.au/healthy-homes/building-resilience
https://beyou.edu.au/learn/learning-resilience
Klara Manenica
Head of Mulrooney House