RESILIENCE: The answer to your wellness journey

Growing up I was in awe of how my mom handled life stressors, many people will say she is a strong woman. But my mom is also a soft woman, the only difference is she is deeply religious and loves Allah (SWT) and is very outwardly calm. She's had her share of difficulties in life but she always seemed in control and might come off as someone who was emotionless , which was further from the truth, because we are so used to see one way of showing emotions or of handling things, we have only ever known the extreme end of things, it is either all or nothing. The way my mother handled things was what I came to know later on as an adult who studied psychology as resilience.

The concept of resilience is gaining increasing attention in the field of mental health. Studies highlight its potential to serve as a protective factor against the development of psychiatric disorders. Resilient individuals often exhibit adaptive lifestyles, enhanced social functioning, improved morale, and better physical health, even in the face of difficult circumstances. This suggests that resilience is crucial for navigating life’s challenges while maintaining a positive outlook and a healthy psychological state.

The relationship between resilience and mental well-being is mediated by various psychological factors, such as a positive view of the self, the world, and the future. Individuals with high levels of resilience are more likely to possess the necessary competencies and coping strategies to manage stress and adversity effectively, ultimately promoting their overall mental health and well-being.

Building resilience is not just about surviving but thriving despite adversity, and this has really shaped my way of coping too. I have learnt to look to my mother as my role model and to live life knowing problems are there but the best way to handle these problems is through prayers, seek professional help and to ultimately believe in a positive outcome. In my religion, we see adversity as a means to be closer to Allah (SWT), not that we yearn or want adversity or trials we are even taught to pray that Allah protects us against such trials. But if you experience any hardship, to lean on God and pray, make peace with it and be hopeful that it shall pass ( power of positive thinking). This is true resilience, it makes it easier to deal with any difficulty that might come your way.