What do you do if your resilience is tested in a sustainability profession?

Resilience and patience can be tested in any work role however if and when a Sustainability Professional faces tough time, one should remember the bigger picture and connect with their sense of purpose and mission. Sustainability roles are challenging as many times people may be skeptical or may not have enough knowledge and may seem difficult. Having a great sense of calm and patience and strong communication skills can have you stay strong and explain the position. Additionally one should have a support group or a mentor that one could reach out to for clearing out thoughts and finding their ground. So long as its not toxic, with appropriate communication things can be explained and turned in your favour.

Stay Connected: Lean on your network for support, sharing challenges and seeking advice. Reflect on Purpose: Remind yourself why you chose this path. Your passion for sustainability can reignite your drive. Celebrate Wins: Recognise both small and big successes to maintain motivation and perspective. Learn and Adapt: View setbacks as learning opportunities. Adapt strategies based on new insights. Self-Care: Prioritise your well-being. Regular breaks, exercise, and hobbies can replenish your energy. Seek Inspiration: Draw inspiration from successful sustainability stories and leaders in the field. Resilience in sustainability is about staying inspired, learning from experiences, and caring for your well-being while pushing forward.

If my resilience is tested in my profession, I acknowledge the challenge, assess the situation calmly, seek support from colleagues or mentors, adapt my approach if necessary, and persevere with determination and a positive mindset. I view setbacks as opportunities for growth and learning, fostering resilience.

Never compromises on your values and belief and stay connected with values in the situation of resiliency. When there are certain hindrances and obstacles in your way then it’s your sustainability passion that will drive you through this situation. The passion of environment or social aspects of sustainability will provide you the motivation to successfully conquer the situation of desperation and you will see yourself again on a mission with certain values and belief to achieve the anticipated success.

Reflecting on your passion for the environment and commitment to future generations is essential, especially during challenging times. Spending time outdoors and reconnecting with nature can reignite your passion and sense of purpose. Whether it's a hike in the mountains, a walk on the beach, or simply sitting in a park, immersing yourself in natural surroundings can be rejuvenating. Surrounding yourself with inspirational content can reignite your motivation and provide new insights and perspectives. By staying grounded in your core values and mission, you can navigate challenges with resilience and continue working towards meaningful change in the sustainability sector.

Resiliency is a big factor in ever evolving sustainability field. There are frequent changes in regulations, standards, technology, materials etc. To maintain the resiliency, it is necessary to adapt the changes quickly, and develop such skill to overcome the obstacles and hindrances to make sure the projected success in sustainability journey. By adapting to new situations formulate new strategies, explore new ideas, and foster flexible mindset will lead the way to unlock the breakthroughs.

In my experience: - Embrace adaptability as a cornerstone of resilience in sustainability. - Recognize the perpetual change in regulations, technology, and societal norms. - Cultivate a flexible mindset to adjust strategies and pivot when necessary. - View change as an opportunity for growth and innovation in sustainability endeavors.

Develop a strong network of peers, consultants, mentors, coaches, co-fellows, colleagues, etc. This network will act as a gateway during situations where solutions aren’t looking in your favour. This networking can guide you in providing solutions for the challenges you’re facing and may work. The other added advantage of such network is the experience of professionals working in various and different aspects of sustainability areas may offer wide range of solution against the challenges you’re facing.

In tough situations calmness is the key driver in achieving the success. Remain focussed and stay positive during such situations. The other key factor is to remain consistent and move strengths to strength to tackle the challenges. Manage your routine in a balanced way, handle stress effectively, and establish a good balance between work and personal life. Find a way to relax yourself when you’re away from work and try to utilise maximum productivity when you’re at work. The balance is critical in maintaining your health and performance.

A supplement to the process of reflection, especially in a profession or industry where every day comes with new information - is hindsight. Remember what vision or mission you started off on this journey with, and check how well you've committed to it so far. Our resilience is often tested in incredibly transformational phases of our lives - which is why it's essential to remember that the longer we hold on to our truth, the quicker we get to it.

Take some time off to recharge and self care. Also consider upgrading yourself, and meeting new people that will offer fresh perspectives.

The same concepts that experts use to advise businesses on sustainable paths and how to build resilience might be applied to individuals in the sustainability profession: 1. Don't overconsume your individual resources (time, money,?energy, etc.) 2. Cultivate patience and be willing to lose in the short term for long-term benefits. 3. Stay ahead of trends, be risk-aware, adaptable, and eager to change old habits. 4. Consistently engage with your environment (family, friends, community, nature) and deliberately take care of them. Make positive impact every day.