Written by: Stacey Ruth, 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 has been an enormous amount of change, uncertainty and loss of late. At the same time, most of us are longing for some good news and the energy to bounce back.
As a global society we are craving both the positivity and resiliency we aren’t always certain how to create. Where can we begin? There is a powerful connection between resiliency and positivity, when you create one, the other is its by-product.
Positivity Creates Resilience
It’s hard to imagine being resilient without being positive. Unfortunately, some people are habitually negative without realizing it. Negativity isn’t realism. It is a stance that is lopsidedly judgmental, critical and problem-centric, which keeps us from moving forward to a solution. Negative thoughts and focus deplete our energy, instead of protecting us as we often believe. You cannot thrive for very long in an environment filled with negativity, even if it is only the inner dialogue in your head. You lose resiliency in this inner, or outer, environment.
How Resiliency is Formed
Shifting into a more positive outlook doesn’t imply stuffing concerns or pretending something is great when it is actually full of problems. No. Having a positive perspective means becoming curious about what you can learn, what is possible, where you can affect change, and observing what is working alongside what is not. We all are naturally attracted to this outlook and want to support it. In other words, positivity true positivity, not the fake variety is contagious.
When you are positive, you are more likely to look for solutions to problems. You are more empathetic, creative, innovative and inclusive. When you are negative, you are more likely to look for excuses, blame and find fault in others. How can you be resilient when you give away your power to someone or someone else, blaming them or the situation? You cannot be resilient until you step into and own your true power. This is the ultimate act of positivity and resilience combined.
Resilience Takes Action
Nothing gets done if you hold yourself and others back. If you spend more time trying to decide what is wrong than identifying what would be right, you are stuck right where you are.
To be very clear, being positive doesn’t imply you should never point out where change and improvement are needed. Everyone benefits when we point out weaknesses where they exist and put energy into improving the process or situation. However, it is the positive people who tend to offer up those alternatives, which makes them a critical part of the solution. Imagine if several such people offered up alternatives.
The Mind-Body Factor
It’s believed that people with positive attitudes have a greater chance of beating life-threatening diseases as well. There is a good deal of neuroscience behind this, based on the crucial mind-body connection. Your body has the best mechanisms available to fight diseases, even better than medications. If you are positive about your outlook, it will set your body to the optimal conditions that should help you battle those diseases. Research also underscores that a negative pattern increases stress. Stress has been proven to block the disease-fighting aspects of your body.
Psychologists define resilience as the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or significant sources of stress. We have certainly had our collective fair share of that lately. It can feel too challenging at times to “put on a happy face” when the adversity seems unending. That’s understandable, and being positive doesn’t mean turning a blind eye to the hard times. It means we accept what we cannot change, and then explore, even in small, micro-steps, how we can still move forward and grow in spite of our setbacks.
Stacey Ruth, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Leadership Coach, Stacey Ruth, is an acclaimed marketer, entrepreneur, minister, and founder of two multimillion-dollar agencies. She has been named one of the Top 50 Entrepreneurs in Atlanta and twice as one of the Top 100 “It” Agencies by Experiential Marketer Magazine. She did all this while struggling with two failed marriages, imposter syndrome, overwhelm, and stress-related health issues. This inner crash from outer success triggered the spiritual journey that took her to Manchu Picchu and had her walking across the fire. This was when she learned how we all could rise above circumstances to become irresistible and unstoppable. Today, Stacey advocates for leaders ready to reach their next level with clarity and confidence ‒ most especially women leaders like herself. Stacey is the author of Own Your Own Shift: The Power, Passion, and Freedom to Be Unstoppable.
