Emotional resilience is one’s ability to adapt to stressful situation and bounce back after adverse events. It is determined by a number of factors such as age, life experiences or exposure to trauma. Although resilience is, to some degree, something we are born with, it can be developed and cultivated with some practice. There are specific traits that resilient people share.
Emotional awareness is defined as one’s ability to understand what they are feeling and why. People with emotional awareness have better understanding of other people’s feelings because they are more connected with their own inner life. This type of emotional understanding enables people to respond properly to others and to better regulate and cope with challenging emotions such as fear or anger.
Perseverance is one of the most important skills that can be cultivated. Resilient people are most likely to keep working towards the goal when they face obstacles.
Optimism is a significant characteristic of resilient people. They see the positives in most situations and they believe in their strength. This impacts how they manage problems.
Sense of humour allows shifting perspective from perceiving things as a threat to seeing them as a challenge. People with emotional resilience can laugh at life’s challenges.
Internal control. Resilient individuals believe that they are in control of their lives, rather that outside forces. This feature is associated with reduced stress. People with realistic view of the world can be more proactive while handling stressors and have a better sense of control.
Perspective allows resilient people to learn from their mistakes and see obstacles as challenges. They can find meaning in life’s challenges and adversities make them stronger.
How to cultivate emotional resilience
Be kind to yourself. Cultivate wellbeing by taking care of your body and mind. Stay physically active, eat well and avoid unhealthy coping strategies.
Foster connections with other people. Prioritise your relationships and reach out to others.
Be in charge of your thoughts. Work on cultivating an optimistic attitude, acknowledge and accept that change and challenges are part of life.
