and during all of this, we continue to show up in all the ways we need to, to our children, our partners, and to the workmates on the screen. my friend finds joy and peace in her little girl, so at her side is where she spends much of her time these days.
in my work with people living with cancer, i continue to be surprised and humbled by those who — despite facing painful and exhausting treatments — can still find joy in a good joke or feeling the sun on their face. these are people who measure a “great” day by their ability to get out of bed each morning, and they are pretty thrilled with that.
and while it may seem that resilience comes naturally to some, it’s actually not innate. rather,
the awe-inspiring ability to adapt to adversity
is more of a skill of sorts that one can learn and actually get better at.
according to the american psychological association
, there are four things that can increase resilience and help us withstand — and recover from — trauma. the first is connection by spending time with the peeps who care about you, who can provide empathy and support and remind you that you are not alone.
second is self-care, no surprise there. proper nutrition, quality sleep, staying hydrated and exercising strengthens your body and helps reduce the toll of emotions, like anxiety and depression. also in this category is mindfulness and avoiding the temptation to self-medicate with alcohol or drugs.