Cultivating Emotional Resilience – The Key to Sustainable Leadership

“Looking back, all that I went through makes sense now!”

– said a 47-year Leader (coachee) as we finished the conversation. She had 2 options – resist or adapt, garner her inner and external resources and march forward. She chose the latter.

Was it planned for? No! She was caught off guard. She didn’t believe she had the strength at the time, but a decade later she saw how she grew in her resilience from the decisions she made then!

Is this just her story? No, I am sure you and I have all experienced this. And that is why talking about emotional resilience feels important to me. It is a muscle that needs to be developed, because resilience isn’t about avoiding setbacks—it’s about navigating them with emotional steadiness and purpose and staying grounded when uncertainty tries to shake you.

As we step into March, I invite you to reflect on this:

• Where does your true strength come from?
• How has resilience enabled you to thrive, adapt and grow?
• How can you cultivate and nurture resilience—not just for yourself, but for those you lead?

With warmth & purpose,

Deepa Mahesh

Emotional Resilience = Inner Strength

Emotional resilience is the very essence of inner strength. We often associate strength with power, or toughness, but true inner strength comes from our ability to remain steady, adaptable, and grounded in the face of challenges. Metaphor – A strong banyan tree standing steady while experiencing the vagaries of Mother Nature.

It means:

• Having the strength without rigidity
• Being courageous in vulnerability
• Being self-aware of thoughts and emotions to manage one’s energy
• Navigating and learning from challenges

Reflection Questions:

1. When faced with a setback, how do I typically respond—do I resist, react, or adapt?
2. What beliefs or fears hold me back from embracing challenges as opportunities for growth?
3. What daily practices or support systems help me stay emotionally grounded during uncertainty?

Anatomy of Emotional Resilience – A Formula:

EMOTIONAL RESILIENCE = (Self-Awareness + Emotional Response ability + Cognitive Reframing) x (Support Systems + Energy Management)

• Resilience is amplified when support systems and energy management are strong. The more grounded and replenished you are, the more effectively you can navigate challenges.
• The components before the multiplication symbol alone are not enough—without energy management, even strong self-awareness and reframing skills may still lead to emotional exhaustion and burnout.
• Resilience is not a fixed trait—it is a skill that can be cultivated by strengthening each component

Transforming the ‘Not Good Enough’ Mindset – Coaching Case Study

A 48-year-old senior woman leader faced significant challenges, including self-doubt, decision fatigue, and emotional exhaustion, particularly amid restructuring rumors. At the core of her struggles was a deep-seated belief: "I am not good enough. I haven’t achieved enough. I will be asked to leave." Through reflective questioning, she traced her self-doubt back to childhood, reinforced by past workplaces, leading to self-rejection and missed opportunities.

Over the course of 10 coaching sessions, she worked on:

? Cognitive Reframing – Challenging self-doubt with evidence based reflection.

? Mindfulness & Self-Compassion – Shifting inner dialogue from fear to presence.

? Action-Based Confidence – Tackling challenges with courage.

Her breakthrough affirmed, "I am good where I am. I am learning to face challenges with courage." This shift grounded her in confidence and clarity, enabling her to lead with self-trust and resilience.

Practices for Emotional Resilience

1. Shift your narrative from a limiting to expansive way of interpreting setbacks.
2. Apply the 10-10-10 Rule (Will this matter in 10 minutes, 10 months, or 10 years?)
3. Build a support network—mentors, colleagues, or coaches for perspective.

Monthly Challenge

Acknowledge your emotions several times a day. Ask yourself, “how am I feeling right now?” Use the emotion wheel to name the emotion and increase your emotions vocabulary.

Upcoming Program Updates

In this edition, we also bring you exciting updates on our programs:

1. Conscious Conversations – A Space where we come together for deep, reflective, and open discussions that inspire personal growth, contemplation, and connection. First session on March 18th.

2. Poornatva Retreat – The Emotional Odyssey–A Hero’s Journey is a 2.5-day immersive retreat designed to help leaders navigate their emotional landscape with clarity and confidence.

Dates: May 23rd to 25th

Leadership Thought for this month:

"Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and freedom."—Viktor E. Frankl

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