7 Steps to Build Psychological Resilience

1. Being aware: The idea is to make decisions consciously with a sense of purpose. When  you make decisions based on external factors like peer pressure, need to fit in, following the crowd etc it purports the real purpose behind your actions. This leads to dissatisfaction resulting in stress and anxiety. Resilient individuals have callings, a mission and a sense of purpose that drives their actions even in times of adversity.
2. Being Optimistic: Resilient individuals are realists. They look at all relevant information, both positive and negative pertaining to a problem, but, instead of focusing on what they cannot change, they focus on what best they can do with their available resources.
3. Facing Fears: When you face your fears head on, it becomes less frightening and according to neuroscience, it is the only real way to deal with it. Though facing fears can be challenging, the idea is to look at it as a hurdle that when overcomed will only make you stronger.
4. To have a Strong Moral Compass: Resilient individuals have the ability to distinguish between right and wrong. They are selfless and think about the well-being of others even in tough times. This strong sense of moral compass comes from compassion and high emotional intelligence.
5. To Practice Spirituality: The idea is to stay connected to whatever definition of higher power you have. Some nurture this connection by being a part of religious groups while others dig deep within themselves to find and embrace this connection. Either way, it promotes a sense of groundedness and connectedness with the Universe.
6. Being Physically Fit: Exercising relieves stress. It is a good way to condition your brain that dealing with physical stress is no different from dealing with mental stress. Researchers found that exposure to stress induced symptoms like high heart rate, sweating, rapid breathing etc instills the realization that these conditions are not dangerous and the fear associated with these symptoms gradually reduce.
7. Keep things in perspective: This is to take into consideration the consequences of your behaviors and actions and seeing things from a bigger perspective. For instance, you have a habit of procrastination and no determination to get over it though you know that this is the reason behind your stress. To put things in perspective in this case would be to take responsibility for your actions by planning and organizing your work and following the plans you make. Doing this will reduce the overall stress you face right before the deadlines.   

I would like to conclude this with a beautiful statement as said by Epictetus in The Art of Living, “Every difficulty in life presents us with an opportunity to turn inward and to invoke our own submerged inner resources. The trials we endure can and should introduce us to our strengths...Dig deeply. You possess strengths you might not realize you have. Find the right one. Use it.”