The Importance of Building Emotional Resilience
In moments of significant change (transitions), we use our personal and collective emotional capacity to adapt to the new conditions we face. At these moments, building emotional resilience, it's crucial.
The Woman Post | Carolina Rodríguez Monclou
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Let's take a look at emotional resilience's importance and how it can help us to overcome difficult situations.
This pandemic is an unprecedented experience in our lives. It is occurring globally, which means that we are dealing with this alongside everyone else and that there is a lot of uncertainty about moving forward.
These days, we are challenged by our lives shifting from being outside to being at home. This means adapting and changing the ways we relate with our work and with our families. The boundaries we had before may no longer exist (work isn't just at work and home isn't just at home).
We spend more time on the phone and the computer in our work, giving way to more instances of miscommunication and less time to fortify our bonds with our colleagues. We are creative with ways to spend time with each other in our friendships, but it often doesn't compare to spending time outside with our loved ones.
The hugs, words, and interactions we used to rely on are no longer the ones we can continue to lean on. It is safe to say that we need to increase our emotional capacity and resiliency to be better aware of what is going on for the people around us. We need to lean into the traditions we are already a part of, learn new practices, and explore what is supportive to us collectively to strengthen our capacity to go through this transition together.
Learning to Deal with Worries
Due to the COVID-19, we're dealing with a lot of financial uncertainty at this time. If you're a worker, you may have had conversations or heard conversations about potential changes or cuts to your schedule, maybe layoffs.
If you are a parent, you might be worrying about how you're going to provide for your children; you might be worried about that as well.
Also read: LIVE MORE MINDFULLY BY BEING KINDER TO YOURSELF
People in many different industries are facing challenges about how they're going to be managing their finances.
The financial challenges we're feeling are only a part of what we've been feeling like a community. There's also a lot of emotional challenges that many are going through as well. As this affects all areas of our lives, building emotional resilience is crucial to find our inner strength to overcome any challenge.
Perspectives of Emotional Resilience
Emotional resilience is the capacity to withstand emotional trials and tensions. In a few words, the way we deal with those challenging moments in our lives. Here are two ways identified by the Ayni Institute of viewing resilience.
-Individualistic Resilience: Resiliency is about you. You know that you are strong and that you can thrive if you focus on improving yourself. In a few words, you're self-sufficient, and you meet your needs on your own. Here, resilience is about an individual that is isolated, focusing on self-preservation.
-Communal Resilience: Risk and support are distributed. It's focused on the larger community and environment. This type of resilience is about being interconnected and supporting each other.
Both of them are well. Nevertheless, identifying which one you relate to the most will help you better know how to act in any problematic situation.
It is safe to say that we need to increase our emotional capacity and resiliency to be better aware of what is going on for the people around us and us. We need to lean into the traditions we are already a part of, learn new practices, and explore what is supportive to us collectively to strengthen our capacity to go through this transition together.
