Resiliency: What If I Don't Have It?

By Amy Meek, Board President

Why is it that we all know someone who has experienced great adversity yet can bounce back from just about anything, while others seem to struggle with everyday stressors?

The answer is Resiliency.

Resiliency is the ability to adapt to difficult situations. This is what helps one person rebound after a life setback instead of falling apart. People who lack resiliency often have great difficulty dealing with problems and may become overwhelmed easily. Resiliency is not a trait that you are either born with or miss out on, but it is a trait that you build.

Parents can build this in their children. Nurturing a child’s strengths, building their self-

confidence, making sure they know they are loved, are all ways to build resiliency in children,

but what happens when adults never had this done for them as a child? All hope is not lost, and it is never too late! All people have the skills to grow resiliency. No human is irreversibly

broken.

So how does someone build their own resiliency?

1. GET CONNECTED: Everyone needs a strong positive connection. Get involved with your church, join a faith community, or volunteer. Helping others is often the best medicine.

2. LIVE ON PURPOSE: Set attainable goals and follow through. Celebrate your accomplishments and then set more goals.

3. LOOK FOR HOPE: Don't dwell on the past; after all, it is the past. Learn from it, and then

move on knowing you are more equipped today than you were yesterday.

4. PRACTICE SELF CARE: This does not mean reward yourself with a hot fudge sundae every day because you “deserve it”. This means pay attention to what you need. Get sleep, fill your body with good food, relax, and pray.

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At Sojourn House, building resiliency will be embedded in everything we do. Building trusting

relationships, nurturing strengths, and giving back are all ways our clients will work to build

their own resiliency muscles. Survivors will find ways to tell their story, practice mindfulness,

and find hope. I believe Jesus said it best:

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.

In this world you will have trouble. But take heart!

I have overcome the world.”

–John 16:33