Have you recently faced a setback and want to develop a more resilient mindset and attitude to help you move through the challenge?

Well, you’re in luck.

Resilience, which is often described as our ability to bounce back from adversity, or what some are now describing as an ability to “move beyond” challenging circumstances, is not a static state. 

We’re not born with a certain amount of resilience and that’s all we’re going to have. 

It’s actually a skill that we can build or cultivate.

There may also be times when we feel challenged in the resiliency department because we’re facing back-to-back (sometimes even back-to-back-to-back) challenges or we’re dealing with something we’ve never had to face before.

Building or strengthening resiliency is therefore something we may have to actively work on, sometimes again and again.

In fact, several researchers who studied the aftermath of the 2014 water crisis in Flint, Mich., and looked at how the local community moved through the associated challenges, advocated for a broader definition of resilience in order to reflect this idea.

The researchers noted that the Flint community had faced challenges, including high rates of poverty and poor infrastructure, for years before the 2014 crisis.

So while many community members actively engaged in strategies to build resilience in 2014 and beyond, this was not their first rodeo.

They’d likely had to cultivate resilience both at a community and individual level before, maybe many times before.

Plus, Flint residents noticed changes in the water quality almost immediately following the city’s decision to switch its water supply in April 2014, but an official response to the contamination did not come until the fall of 2015. It took another five years before lead levels in the water fell within state and federal mandates. Thus, the crisis lasted years and, for many, is not over.

Taking all of that into account, the researchers who studied the Flint situation and how the community responded suggested that resilience is actually more cyclical in nature than what some of the more common definitions suggest.

It’s more than bouncing back, it’s an ability to repeatedly and consistently find strength and renewal and adapt to challenging circumstances.

In that sense, resilience can and may even need to be reinforced at times depending on the situation and/or our capacity to handle what we’re encountering.

Has your resilience ever been tested? How did you find your strength?

Additional Takes on Building Resilience

“Building your resilience” via the American Psychological Association

“Five Science-Backed Strategies to Build Resilience” via Greater Good Magazine

EVENT: Building Resilience During Tough Times

If you’re interested in learning more about how to strengthen your sense of resilience, join a one-hour, online event exploring strategies to help build resilience when facing challenges. We'll also discuss some of the things that can get in the way of creating a resilient mindset. Whether you're dealing with personal struggles or professional setbacks, this event is designed to help you navigate difficult situations with strength and determination.

Don't miss this opportunity to connect with others who are on a similar journey.

When: Wed., June 18 from 7-8 p.m. EDT OR Tues., June 24 from 7-8 p.m.
Where: Register via Eventbrite and receive a Zoom link

Before you go …

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