Becoming Resilient

Yesterday, I was a presenter for a Parkinson’s Disease (PD) Conference. I was privileged to witness many examples of resiliency, the ability to adapt and adjust to the major changes and difficulties in life. It is about thriving, not just surviving.

A former Taiko drummer, one woman learned of her disease because she was having trouble coordinating her hands. While PD was a devastating diagnosis, she was not only in the process of teaching herself another Japanese instrument, which she could play with one hand, but she was raising money for the PD group through her art. At the same time, she had recently organized a month of meals for a friend undergoing cancer treatment..

More than one person described how something that could appear to be so negative, had led to some remarkable changes in their life. One of my favorite quotes of the day came from a man who has been living with PD for 13 years. He described how Southwest Airlines had no seating reservations. However, because he had PD, he was first in line and could pick the best seat. “I have the bad, so I’ll take the good.”

What makes a person resilient? Is it something you can learn how to do? The American Psychological Association has a website and a brochure “The Road to Resilience,” which explains what resiliency is and how anyone can achieve it. Included are the following "10 Ways to Build Resilience:”

MAKE CONNECTIONS Good relationships with close family members, friends, or others are important. Accepting help and support from those who care about you and will listen to you strengthens resilience. Some people find that being active in civic groups, faith-based organizations or other local groups provides social support and can help with reclaiming hope. Assisting others in their time of need also can benefit the helper.

AVOID SEEING CRISES AS INSURMOUNTABLE PROBLEMS You can't change the fact that highly stressful events happen, but you can change how you interpret and respond to these events. Try looking beyond the present to how future circumstances may be a little better. Note any subtle ways in which you might already feel somewhat better as you deal with difficult situations.

ACCEPT THAT CHANGE IS A PART OF LIVING Certain goals may no longer be attainable as a result of adverse situations. Accepting circumstances that cannot be changed can help you focus on circumstances that you can alter.

MOVE TOWARDS YOUR GOALS Develop some realistic goals. Do something regularly -- even if it seems like a small accomplishment -- that enables you to move toward your goals. Instead of focusing on tasks that seem unachievable, ask yourself, "What's one thing I know I can accomplish today that helps me move in the direction I want to go?"

TAKE DECISIVE ACTIONS Act on adverse situations as much as you can. Take decisive actions, rather than detaching completely from problems and stresses and wishing they would just go away.

LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES FOR SELF DISCOVERY. People often learn something about themselves and may find that they have grown in some respect as a result of their struggle with loss. Many people who have experienced tragedies and hardship have reported better relationships, greater sense of strength even while feeling vulnerable, increased sense of self-worth, a more developed spirituality, and heightened appreciation for their life.

NURTURE A POSITIVE VIEW OF YOURSELF Developing confidence in your ability to solve problems and trusting your instincts helps build resilience.

KEEP THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE Even when facing very painful events, try to consider the stressful situation in a broader context and keep a long-term perspective. Avoid blowing the event out of proportion.

MAINTAIN A HOPEFUL OUTLOOK. An optimistic outlook enables you to expect that good things will happen in your life. Try visualizing what you want, rather than worrying about what you fear.

TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF. Pay attention to your own needs and feelings. Engage in activities that you enjoy and find relaxing. Exercise regularly. Taking care of yourself helps to keep your mind and body primed to deal with situations that require resilience.

Additional ways of strengthening resilience may be helpful. For example, some people write about their deepest thoughts and feelings related to trauma or other stressful events in their life. Meditation and spiritual practices help some people build connections and restore hope. The key is to identify ways that are likely to work well for you as part of your own personal strategy for fostering resilience.

“When you have a crises, the crisis itself becomes one of your biggest asset if that crises is bad enough.” Carl-Henric Svanberg