Written by: Dr. Christine Manukyan, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
There are lots of different definitions of the word "resilient”, but the one that most encompasses what we're talking about today is this: "the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or significant sources of stress."
Resilience is a learned skill. It's something that you practice and continue to work on over the course of a lifetime. Most resilience is built through going through life CRAP, the stuff that no one really wants to go through. Developing resilience is hard, but entirely possible. And when you increase your resilience, you can actually see the positive outcome from a negative situation… eventually.
According to research done by the American Psychological Association:
Intention has everything to do with developing resilience.
Here are 7 skills that can help you begin to intentionally develop resilience:
Connect
Stay connected with sources of support and lean into your people. Whether you need to get on the phone with a trusted friend, sit silently with your spouse, or find someone to connect with on social media, find some way to authentically connect with another person. Be intentional about connecting with another person.
Talk
Talk about what you're going through and avoid shutting down. Sharing our stories and experiences can help us to remember that we are not alone. Our struggles may look different, but pain is pain. You would be surprised by how many people there are who want to help and encourage you. And in case you need to hear this, it's okay to cry around other people. Be intentional about opening up and SPEAKING your truth - the good and the bad.
Believe
Believe in yourself! Cultivating a BELIEF in your own ability to cope is one of the most integral parts of healing and developing resilience. Confidence is good, just make sure you also maintain humility. We are all human, and believing in yourself and others is a sure-fire way to increase your Resilience. Beliefs are a choice, CHOOSE to set your intention on believing that you can conquer whatever trial life throws your way. YOU CAN DO IT!
Help
Find a way to help someone else. Serving others causes us to look outward and that brings a perspective shift. When we look outside ourselves, we have to face the reality of the world around us. This can be difficult and scary, which is exactly the reason many people choose to put their blinders on. It takes intentionality to find ways to help, and this may be exactly what you need to help grow your resilience muscle.
Laugh
Laughing causes our mind and body to experience a positive reaction. When you activate a positive emotion, it becomes an antidote to despair. Sometimes you may find it hard to laugh and finding something funny may seem like an impossible task, especially during seasons of grief and loss. Intentionally finding ways to cultivate laughter is important though! Try watching a stand-up comedy show on Netflix, calling your most hilarious friend, or looking up funny videos on YouTube! It’s impossible NOT to laugh while watching a video of a “Little Girl [who] Is Pretty Darn Sure She Has a Boyfriend.”
Survive
Last, but certainly not least, cultivate an attitude of survivorship. Use tools like affirmations and visualization to remember what you already have conquered and drawn from that strength. YOU ARE A WARRIOR! Don’t forget that.
YOU ARE RESILIENT.
Dr. Christine Manukyan, Executive Contributor, Brainz Magazine
Dr. Christine Manukyan is a residency-trained Clinical Pharmacist, Functional Medicine Practitioner, Business Coach, Author, Speaker, Top-Rated STORRIE™ Podcast host, and mother of two. Before becoming an entrepreneur, she spent 13 years in Corporate America as a Clinical Pharmacist with various leadership roles. After experiencing her own health transformation with Functional Medicine, losing 100+ lbs, and becoming a natural bodybuilding athlete and marathon runner, she found her true calling empowering others to reach their health goals without pharmaceuticals. Dr. Christine has helped more than 250 clients transform their health. She is a frequent speaker on holistic lifestyle choices, creating a virtual business, founder and entrepreneur mindset, and creating multiple income streams. She's spoken in front of audiences numbering 15,000+ and has been recognized globally for her entrepreneurial achievement and dedication. Her magazine features include PharmaSis Magazine for female pharmacist entrepreneurs, health and wellness publications, and she is a BRAINZ Magazine Executive Contributor, including BRAINZ 500 Global recognition. In 2021, she's bringing a revolutionary product to market as a startup partnered with the UC Berkeley SkyDeck accelerator and incubator. Dr. Christine is passionate about helping burnout medical professionals build and scale a profitable virtual practice to have more quality time with their loved ones doing what fulfills their life. She believes everyone deserves a second chance to rewrite their story and become the best version of themselves.
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