Building Resilience

With everything that is going on in the world, I wasn't sure about writing this post. Yes, I have been through difficult, dark times but I have never had to leave my home with a backpack, not knowing if I will ever return and if I did return, that my home would still be there.  However, I have decided to go ahead and share some of what I understand to be 'building resilience'. 

We all have different battles, different challenges and we all have different levels of resilience.  But we do all have resilience.  We all have the ability but we sometimes need a bit of support and encouragement to believe that the resilience is there.   There are simple steps we can take. To start with, go to the internationally recognised 5 Steps to Wellbeing. 

• Connect. Connect with the people around you: family, friends, colleagues and neighbours at home, work, school or in your local community.
• Be active. Go for a walk or run, cycle, play a game, garden or dance. Exercising makes you feel good. ...
• Take notice. Be observant, look for something beautiful or remark on something unusual. ...
• Keep learning. Don’t be afraid to try something new, rediscover an old hobby or sign up for a course. ...
• Give. Do something nice for a friend or stranger, thank someone, smile, volunteer your time or consider joining a community group.

Practising these steps regularly will begin to help build up a more positive mindset.  For some people, the above 5 steps will be challenging.  Celebrate each time you manage one of them! Then begin to find new, small challenges. We are all different, so our chosen small challenges will all be different.   

I tested my resilience last weekend by taking a dip in Knockburn Loch.  The ice had to be broken in order for us to go in so it's fair to say it was cold!! I wasn't sure I could do it but I focused on my breath, took my time, didn't beat myself up about having doubts but reminded myself that I have overcome my negative mind many times before! I am NOT saying that you all have to dip in freezing water to build up your resilience but do challenge yourself in some way this week. As I have said already, we are all different.  That is what makes the world a more interesting place! 

We have much to be grateful for. It's not always easy to practise gratitude, but today I am grateful to have a home, a bed to sleep in and a night without bombs crashing down around me.  

PS I am wearing the pink hat because i am currently taking part in a Cold Water Challenge in aid of Cancer Research UK. ​