Resilience is one of the most important capacities in life. This is the ability of human beings to overcome adversity in their existence. For example, mourning the death of a loved one, an unexpected job dismissal, heartbreak, a period of loneliness or suffering. Despite the pain experienced, the person is reborn back to joy through an ability to reinvent himself by giving a constructive sense to reality from the vision of learning.
In this article in Psychology-Online we address this question: "Resilient people: examples and characteristics". Every human being has this quality since, in addition, nobody knows how they will react to a certain situation until they experience it in practice.
Here we describe the main points that are part of resilience:
1. Social network of friends and family
Resilient people they do not close in on themselves. They are autonomous, however, they do not make this proactive attitude an individualistic self-sufficiency but they nourish their lives with the affective bonds of collaboration and affection. That does not mean that one person is more resilient than another because of having more people close by. What is truly definitive is the quality of the bond and the constructive influence of that environment on the protagonist.
2. A creative inner world
When the external reality shows its less friendly side, the protagonist can not only attend to the reading of the facts but can also take refuge in that universe that cultivates through self-knowledge, art, reading, positive thinking, emotions and life felt through one's own point of view. That is, they are people who do not stay on the surface of things but rather reach the depth of being.
3. Adaptation to change
When reality changes, even when this alteration of external factors has occurred in Against his will, the protagonist positions himself before a map of reality that involves him in a experiential. The resilient people They carry out this process of change with the support of that social network described above.
4. Emotional intelligence
In adversity situations, contradictory feelings can occur, as well as there is room for feelings related to sadness. A resilient person does not cover this emotional reality but integrates it into his life giving space to listen to that information that has a message to express. Therefore, we can affirm that emotional intelligenceit is a characteristic of the most resilient people.
5. They look to the future
It is impossible to make vital changes by focusing on yesterday since the past is already written. Resilient people look to tomorrow with hope and focus on the present. For example, new goals are set to achieve.
6. They waste little time complaining
Complaints are very human, however, a resilient person is the protagonist of his destiny, even when he experiences a period of pain. Therefore, it does not wear out chronically through mental rumination and constant complaints.
7. Sense of humor
The laugh and smile They are medicinal elements that reinforce the strength in the face of overcoming a sad fact. When a person experiences a moment of maximum pain, the space for humor is less than that which occurs in joy. However, this ingredient is present even in small doses.
8. Gratitude
Even in pain, the resilient person is aware that he has motives to give thanks to life. For example, by the comforting embrace of that friend, by the company of the closest people or by the happiness experienced so far.
9. They ask for help when they need it
They do not expect others to guess their thinking but take care of themselves by asking for help on their own initiative through clear messages to others.
10. Empathy
They are persons with sensitivity and empathy not only towards others, but also towards themselves.
Resilience is a very human capacity, you just have to remember some difficult moments that you have overcome in your life to realize your capacity for transformation.
- Unrequited love. This is one of the situations that, on a sentimental level, forces the protagonist to overcome this breaking of expectations through a necessary duel to forget that person.
- Victor frankl Author of the book "Man's Search for Meaning" and founder of Logotherapy, he is a clear example of resilience through his testimony about life in a concentration camp.
- Overcoming the illness or death of a loved one. Health, despite the fact that in so many moments we do not value it consciously, it is one of the most important pillars of well-being. Therefore, those health obstacles represent a fundamental test of resilience.
- Overcoming a process of change. For example, a divorce that breaks with the predictable routine visualized up to that moment.
- A job dismissal at age 50, a time when the age factor acquires a limiting significance in some market niches.
Now that you know the characteristics of resilient people and we have shown you some tips, it is time to help you be a resilient person. The resilience can be cultivated and trained in the practice of life:
- Invest in your emotional formation through taking personal growth courses, reading psychology books and attending specialized seminars.
- Take care of the face-to-face factor of your relationships with friends so that contact through new technologies don't substitute the power of a hug, for instance. At the same time, take advantage of the full potential of technology to be close to those who are far away and to be closer to those who live in your immediate environment.
- Music, art, cinema, literature and sports are ingredients that nourish your life, increasing beauty as an existential concept.
- Model the example of those resilient people that you observe in your closest environment.
- Go through a mentoring process counting on the help of a mentor who advises you with his advice and reflections on resilience.
This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
