“We can either teach ourselves to be victims or we can learn to be resilient.”
Hello Resurface Community,
This may sound punchy but it is an essential choice that we continually have to make. We can wallow in our set-backs with attention and sympathy the only reward. The problem with this is that this destroys our self-esteem and leaves us no happier. Or we can accept our situation and learn the tools and techniques necessary to get through it, building and honouring our sense of self, and allowing us the chance to flourish. We vote to choose resilience over victimhood.
As Karen Reivich from The University of Pennsylvania has taught us, resilience is the capacity to draw upon internal and external resources in times of need or adversity. It is the process and outcome of successfully adapting to difficult or challenging life experiences, especially through mental, emotional, and behavioral flexibility and adjustment to external and internal demands .
The beautiful thing is that resilience can be taught. Here at Resurface, we have created a surf-therapy program that explores resilience and flow. So let’s choose resilience over victimhood. Let’s learn how to adapt to life’s challenges and become stronger in the process. And if you’re looking for a fun way to build resilience, consider trying out surf therapy with Resurface.
Building resilience skills can be immensely beneficial in addressing a wide range of mental health issues and challenges, including trauma, addiction, depression, OCD, ADHD, grief, co-dependency, and low self-esteem. These skills can help individuals cope with adversity, recover from setbacks, and ultimately improve their overall well-being.
- Reducing the impact of traumatic memories: Resilience skills can help individuals learn to manage overwhelming emotions and thoughts, which can reduce the impact of traumatic memories. For example, mindfulness meditation can help individuals become more aware of their thoughts and feelings, which can help them process traumatic experiences.
- Fostering post-traumatic growth: Resilience skills can also help individuals find meaning in their experiences and foster post-traumatic growth. For example, writing about traumatic experiences can help individuals make sense of what happened and find new perspectives on their experiences.
- Developing healthier coping mechanisms: Resilience skills can aid in developing healthier coping mechanisms, which can reduce the likelihood of relapse. For example, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) can help individuals identify and change negative thought patterns that contribute to addiction.
- Enhancing self-regulation and emotional control: Resilience skills can also enhance self-regulation and emotional control, which are crucial in addiction recovery. For example, practicing mindfulness meditation can help individuals become more aware of their thoughts and emotions, which can help them regulate their behaviour.
- Promoting optimism: Resilience skills can counter the negative thought patterns and emotional spirals often seen in depression by promoting optimism. For example, cognitive restructuring techniques can help individuals identify and challenge negative thoughts .
- Fostering adaptive problem-solving: Resilience skills can also foster adaptive problem-solving, which is vital in managing and recovering from depression. For example, problem-solving therapy (PST) can help individuals develop effective strategies for solving problems and managing stress .
OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder):
- Challenging obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors: Resilience skills can help individuals challenge and reframe obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors. For example, exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy can help individuals gradually confront their fears and reduce compulsive behaviors .
- Promoting patience and tolerance of uncertainty: Resilience skills can also promote patience, tolerance of uncertainty, and the ability to manage anxiety without relying on rituals. For example, mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) can help individuals become more aware of their thoughts and emotions, which can help them tolerate uncertainty .
ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder):
- Improving executive functioning: Resilience skills can improve executive functioning, time management, and organization, which are areas often impacted by ADHD. For example, cognitive training programs can help individuals improve working memory and attention .
- Fostering adaptability and persistence: Resilience skills can also foster adaptability and persistence in the face of challenges associated with ADHD symptoms. For example, coaching programs that focus on goal-setting and problem-solving skills can help individuals develop effective strategies for managing ADHD symptoms .
- Navigating intense emotions: Resilience skills can aid in the grieving process by helping individuals navigate intense emotions. For example, expressive writing exercises can help individuals process their emotions related to grief .
- Finding meaning in loss: Resilience skills can also help individuals find meaning in loss. For example, creating a memorial or engaging in activities that honor the memory of a loved one can help individuals find new perspectives on their loss .
- Developing healthier boundaries and self-esteem: Resilience skills can encourage individuals to develop healthier boundaries and self-esteem, reducing co-dependency tendencies. For example, assertiveness training programs can help individuals learn to communicate their needs effectively .
- Teaching self-care and self-reliance: Resilience skills also teach self-care and self-reliance, which are essential for breaking codependent patterns. For example, mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) programs can help individuals become more aware of their own needs and develop effective strategies for self-care .
- Resilience skills can improve self-confidence and self-worth by fostering a more positive self-concept.
- They encourage self-compassion, self-acceptance, and the ability to bounce back from self-criticism.
In summary, building resilience skills equips individuals with the psychological tools and mindset needed to face life's challenges, recover from setbacks, and adapt to difficult circumstances. These skills can complement traditional therapy and treatment approaches and play a valuable role in addressing a wide range of mental health issues, as they promote emotional well-being and personal growth. However, it's important to note that while resilience skills can be helpful, they should not replace professional treatment when needed, especially for severe or chronic mental health conditions.
Our life-changing, evidence-based, surf therapy programmes are open to all ages and all levels of surfing, including complete beginners.
We invite you to stay connected on our social platforms and we look forward to hearing from you.
With gratitude Josh and the Resurface team.
#resilience #flow #trauma #psychology #grit #peakperformance
