Dr. Karen Stallings is an expert in her field. She is the founder of Heal My Wounded Place, a buissness that empowers people to heal the wounds of the soul, the author of the book When Faith and Trauma Collide, she is a faith driven entrepreneur who has been a practicing clinican for over 30 years.
The importance of our mental health cannot be overstated. After all, it’s the most significant influence on the way that we think, feel, and act. Equally important is resilience, our ability to adapt and bounce back from adversity. While some may believe that these two things are quite different from one another, the truth is that our resilience has a strong impact on our mental health.
Understanding and fostering resilience can significantly improve our ability to manage feelings of stress and challenges we may face, leading to a more fulfilling and balanced life. In five simple steps, we will demonstrate to you today how you can begin building your own resilience, and how you can use this resilience to strengthen your mental health.
What does it mean to be resilient?
Before we list off our steps, it’s important that you have an understanding of what resilience is, and what it means to have it. It’s easy to tell when someone has resilience. Usually, they possess one or more of the following character traits:
Optimism: A positive outlook on life and the future.
Self-Esteem: Confidence in one’s worth and abilities.
Self-Efficacy: Confidence in one's capacity to achieve success in many situations.
Adaptability: An ability to adjust to new circumstances easily.
Regulation: Processing and managing one’s emotions effectively.
Resilience is not just about bouncing back from hardship but also about prospering in the face of challenges. It involves a mix of all of the traits above, which work together to allow resilient individuals to navigate through life’s many difficulties with a level of grace and strength.
How resilience is developed
There isn’t a singular way to develop resilience. It’s a combination of nature and nurture and is usually rooted in one’s upbringing.
Positive relationships, encouragement, and a safe, stable environment are what truly help individuals develop the confidence and skills needed to cope with adversity effectively. These environments provide them with the tools to face challenges, foster independence, and build a strong sense of self-worth.
Don’t worry, though: Even those in less-than-ideal circumstances can develop resilience later in life. Below, we’ll lay out exactly how.
The steps to building resilience in adulthood
Building resilience in adulthood is a journey that varies from person to person. For some, resilience comes naturally, while for others, it requires conscious effort and practice. Regardless of the starting point, these steps can help you develop a stronger, more resilient mindset.
1. Developing a growth mindset
The first step in building resilience is to begin developing a growth mindset. This usually means seeing challenges as opportunities to grow rather than barriers that cannot be dealt with. Embrace the belief that your skills can be built with effort, learning, and persistence. By focusing on growth, you can turn setbacks into stepping stones toward success. This mindset does not just enhance your resilience but also helps to foster a more positive outlook on life.
2. Do not be afraid to seek guidance
Therapy and counseling offer a safe, supportive environment to explore and develop resilience. Mental health professionals can give you important tools and strategies to help you manage stress and build a more resilient mindset.
For instance, a Christian board-certified counselor like Dr. Karen Stallings can assist you in identifying and addressing the root causes of your struggles. Seeking professional help is a very important step, as it equips you with the support needed to navigate life's challenges effectively.
3. Practice mindfulness
Mindfulness and meditation are very effective practices for enhancing resilience. By focusing on the present and accepting it without judgment, you can relieve stress and improve emotional regulation. If your beliefs align with mindfulness exercises, you can add them to your daily activities, like deep breathing and meditation.
4. Learn to set realistic goals
Setting goals that are realistic is an essential step for building resilience. Break down large, daunting goals into smaller, manageable steps. This tactic makes goals seem more attainable and can reduce feelings of overwhelm. Celebrate your progress along the way to keep up your motivation and build confidence.
Realistic goal-setting also involves being flexible and adjusting your plans as needed. By setting these achievable goals and actively working towards them, you build up your resilience and develop a sense of accomplishment and purpose.
5. Build your relationship to faith
Now we are onto the final and perhaps most important step in your resilience journey. That is, of course, building your relationship to faith. Faith is a constant reminder of the hope within us. Our faith and our hope work with one another to build us up and strengthen our mental fortitude. This helps us shift our focus as we seek strategy and instructions to endure tough times.
So long as we embrace the Father's will for our lives we will know He will never leave us, nor forsake us. We build our resilience through faith by leaning on God, practicing being gratitude, reciting scriptures that encourage us, and being consistent in our prayer life.
If you feel unsure of how to proceed, you can always rely on guidance like Dr. K’s book, When Faith and Trauma Collide, to show you exactly how your faith can strengthen your journey to better mental health.
We remain confident that He promises us that all things will work for our good. Our faith keeps us grounded. Our faith keeps us going. This is how true resilience is built.
Begin building strong resilience today
Above all else, the most important thing to remember is that you only fail when you give up. Trials and tribulations may occur, but it’s important to stay persistent. Building resilience in adulthood is a continuous process that requires dedication and practice.
Dr. Karen Stallings brings over twenty-five years of experience working with individuals facing mental health challenges. She firmly believes that trauma and emotional wounds require proper processing and must be addressed on both an emotional and spiritual level rather than relying solely on prayer.
If you’re ready to start building resilience and strengthening your mental health, don’t hesitate to schedule a consultation today and explore Dr. K’s range of services. You deserve to thrive! Don’t block your own path to a more fulfilling life.
Dr. Karen Stallings, Therapist, Life Coach, Faith Driven Entrepreneur
Dr. Karen Stallings is an expert within the mental health field. Her childhood traumas, battles with depression and suicidal ideation provoked her to begin a journey of healing. She has dedicated her life to empowering others with tools and strategies to heal the wounds of their soul. She is the founder of Heal My Wounded Place, a premiere online business where she services clients across the nation.
Her mission: Let's Heal the wounds we cannot see.
