5 Keys for Building Resilience to Difficult Emotions
When you think about resilience, the first thing that comes to mind is probably the ability to bounce back.
Most people think of resilience in terms of the physical. But, it’s just as important (if not more important) to have emotional resilience. This approach refers to how easily you can get through some of the more stressful aspects of life.
Stress will come and go. Everyone will face it. People with higher emotional resilience will typically be able to handle those situations better than others.
So, what can you do to build your resilience to difficult emotions and handle them smoothly, even through difficult situations?
1. Trust Your Instincts
When you run into problems, start focusing less on how you can blame other people, and more on what you can do to solve the problem. It’s essential to accept the things that are happening to you. The sooner you start to do that, the easier it will be to face them and fight through them.
You know your motivations. You know the strategies and solutions that will work best for you. SSo, when something comes up that throws a wrench in your plans, take a look at what’s going on. Rely on your instincts to get through it instead of reaching for worrisome emotions.
2. Be More Optimistic
It might sound silly at first, but a positive attitude can go a long way. It’s not about having an unrealistic worldview or brushing all of the “bad things” under the rug.
Instead, being more optimistic requires you to find the right balance between seeing reality and choosing to stay positive. That positive attitude will get tested time and time again. The harder you work on it, the more emotionally-resilient you’ll become.
3. Confront Your Fears
Want to become more resilient quickly? Look your fears straight in the face.
Our emotions tend to get the best of us when we’re scared and don’t know what to do. When you choose to face your fears, you’re taking away the power of that fear. As a result, you’ll have better control of your emotions.
Furthermore, when something does scare you or worry you, you’ll be better equipped to fight back against it without letting your emotions run wild.
4. Always Keep Learning
If you want to build resilience to difficult emotions, it’s essential to keep your brain as active as possible. Staying “mentally fit” will help your mind to combat stressful situations and keep your emotions in a safe, healthy place.
When you continue to learn, you’re growing your mind and learning more about the world. As a result, you’re more equipped to adapt to the world and the things it can put you through. You’ll become mentally tough and have an easier time bouncing back from complicated feelings that threaten to take over.
5. Seek Out Support
One of the best things you can do to build resilience to difficult emotions is to have support. Supportive friends, family members, and even groups are essential when you’re going through difficult or stressful situations.
It can be especially helpful if the people you surround yourself with are also emotionally resilient.
Isolating yourself will make it harder to build resilience. Finding others who can support you and help you to build up that strength will make it easier on you, and provide you with lasting results.
—
If you want more help building resilience to difficult emotions and you’re not sure what to do, feel free to contact us to learn more. Together, we can work on lasting strategies that you can carry with you to become more resilient on a long-term basis.
