Resilience 2.0

I recently attended a conference where a speaker discussed resilience. Her steps included:

1. Choose resilience: A positive mindset is a choice.
2. Understand that "no" is a gift: It’s one step closer to a “yes.” (yes, it’s a sales reference, and yes, we are ALL in sales)
3. Plan your day: Include personal development and daily affirmations. Every. Single. Day.
4. Shrug it off: Don’t let others know they impacted you negatively.
5. Set boundaries…More on that next week.

As she spoke, I reflected on my own resilience, especially the “shrug it off” suggestion. I manage to stay strong during significant setbacks—like the death of a loved one, job loss, or infertility. I might cry and feel lost for a bit, but I don’t let these events derail me. (See article from Oct. 3, 2024) After a job loss a few years ago, I had to teach a college class just two hours later. I remember setting my emotions aside to give my students 100% of myself. The next day, I was able to reflect on the setback and realized it was a potential blessing. A few months, and even years later, I knew it was a huge blessing.

While I often excel in navigating the big challenges, I realized that I frequently let little things throw me off balance. I can lose my temper when someone cuts me off in traffic or when my robot vacuum interrupts my workout or gets stuck under the sofa for the 10th time in one day. So, I decided it’s time to work on Resilience 2.0...continue to focus on maintaining my calm during the big storms while also handling minor irritations with grace.

I’ve started to incorporate a few strategies to help me stay calm in everyday moments:

• Breathwork and meditation: Techniques like focusing on sounds (first distant, then nearby), concentrating on colors (I discovered over a dozen yellow items while driving one day), or using “worry stones” to direct my thoughts to my fingertips instead of my frustrations.
• Daily reflection practice: I take five minutes at the end of each day to reflect on how I handled both big and small challenges. It helps me track my progress and shift my mindset where needed.
• Journaling: Writing down daily frustrations has been a great way to release those emotions onto paper instead of holding onto them internally.
• Pause before reacting: Before responding to a minor irritation, I pause for ten seconds. This small break helps me think before I act, often diffusing the emotion in the moment.

Anyone with a short fuse knows it’s a challenge to remain calm during minor infractions. It helps to picture yourself watching your reaction. When I see others lose their tempers, I find it easy to question their response. Consider how you’ll feel about the situation tomorrow or even an hour from now. If the traffic delay doesn’t lead to a missed flight or a medical emergency, let it go...even then, there is likely something positive to learn from the setback. Use the resilient energy you possess for the big stuff and apply it to manage the little annoyances you face every day.

If you’d like to work with me to practice your resilience or find ways to shift your negative emotions to a more positive light, reach out. I have tools that can help maintain more balance in your life and your business.

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If you're interested in learning more about my business coaching services or how I can help you turn your visions into business realities, email me at [email protected], reach out via DM or visit my website at www.dunnwise.com.