Developing Resilience- Understanding the Building Blocks

Supportive relationships, financial stability, and regular exercise are among the essential building blocks in the development of resilience. The term 'resilience' can be perplexing, encompassing the ability to manage stress effectively, bouncing back from challenges, and growing from adversity. It is not simply an attitude or character trait, but rather a set of skills that can be cultivated through repeated specific behaviors. Similar to physical fitness, resilience is not a fixed quality but a combination of various factors that contribute to managing stress effectively in different situations. Some of the resilience building blocks, such as income, education, and supportive environments, are beyond one's control. On the other hand, practices like exercise, engaging in hobbies, and getting enough sleep can be incorporated into daily life. Developing supportive relationships, regulating emotions, and practicing self-compassion are skills that take time to cultivate. Conflicting beliefs about resilience persist in scientific literature and popular culture. It's often assumed that difficult experiences make individuals resilient, but research has shown that cumulative stressors experienced in childhood can impair mental and physical health. During the COVID-19 pandemic, studies indicated that supportive relationships, exercise, and other resilience building blocks contributed to people's well-being. Additionally, the concept of resilience is nuanced, as suppressing feelings or coping in unhealthy ways can lead to worse mental health. Resilience should not always be about quickly 'getting over' challenging situations, and some experiences can contribute to personal growth. However, it's important to recognize that a one-size-fits-all approach to resilience does not work for every person and problem, and that the term 'resilience' may not apply to individuals facing systemic challenges such as racism or climate change.