I have news for you: Life isn’t easy.
And nobody is immune to the latter fact.
You can be wealthy, middle-class, poor, famous, you can be a worker at McDonald’s or the CEO of a publicly listed company, and you’re bound to struggle in one way or another, at some point in life.
Some people falter with tough times, sometimes letting it permanently define them; while others thrive, and bounce back with more resilience than ever.
Which category do you fall into? I’m here to provide some assistance.
In this article, I’ll take you through the behaviors of people who stay strong and resilient when life gets tough.
Let’s get to it!
1) They reframe things in a positive light
Some people simply aren’t built to deal with hardship, a sentiment that is reflected in their actions.
I know people who get so down by life’s struggles, they stay defeatist, unwilling to try again.
This isn’t how resilient people tend to work.
Resilient and strong people will consciously look for lessons and growth opportunities in adversity when the dust eventually settles.
Sure, they may get down and disappointed like everyone else, but they won’t wallow unnecessarily.
Instead, they’ll harness their energy into transforming negative situations, almost always coming back stronger in the process.
2) They stay adaptable
During the Covid-induced lockdowns, many businesses were essentially forced to shut their doors… some even permanently.
Yet some businesses survived and even thrived.
How, you ask?
Well, a lot had to do with their adaptability to less-than-ideal circumstances; a lot had to do with their openness in trying actionable steps to move forward.
I know of many service businesses that pivoted and were able to weather the ugly storm, recouping at least some of the expenses they lost.
Not everyone had that ability.
Some remained inflexible in their thinking and approach, getting down over money lost rather than gathering the resolve to get back up and try again.
Once you embrace flexibility rather than clinging to rigid expectations and the feeling of being stuck, a new reality will open up.
3) They’re emotionally aware
How you handle your emotions can make or break you.
Think about it: if you get into an argument with a friend, you can either escalate it and burn bridges permanently, or you can walk away and come back to it once your emotions have thoroughly fizzled.
The emotionally intelligent person will always pick the latter option.
Cooler heads always prevail.
They aren’t robots incapable of getting swayed by raw emotions, but they can keep those feelings in check, never allowing them to overwhelm things and dictate actions.
See the difference?
4) They keep self-care a priority
Once you get too caught up in trying circumstances, you risk those feelings overwhelming you, often paralyzing you from moving forward with clarity.
Trust me, I’ve been there.
Even during the toughest battles in life, you have to somehow strive for balance.
Pursue activities and habits, that are meaningful to you, and that support your physical, emotional, and mental health.
Exercise, rest, mindfulness, or even watching a good film or reading a cathartic novel can help you stay recharged and balanced.
Don’t allow self-criticism or any other negative feelings to overwhelm you.
Show yourself self-compassion by allowing yourself self-care.
I promise you, this will go a long way.
5) They seek support
No matter how strong you think you are, you shouldn’t have to go through the tough times of life alone and isolated.
As established, heavy emotions can consume you, if you aren’t careful.
Never overlook the importance of social connections in terms of living a fulfilling and resilient life.
I remember struggling during the pandemic as I was forced to give up my life savings to keep my small business afloat.
It was a dark period for me.
Many of my days were spent wallowing and ruminating endlessly, typically curled into a fetal position in the corner of my bedroom.
Yet I knew this way of going about things just wasn’t sustainable.
I knew that I had to make fundamental changes.
Step one was removing myself from isolation–and the rest followed.
The truth is that I wouldn’t have survived as efficiently as I did if I didn’t reach out to people in my industry; people who could mentor me and help me think outside of the box.
Seeking connections isn’t limited to mentorship.
Simply having others (friends and family) you know you can lean on when necessary will go a long way.
6) They cultivate gratitude
If you’re going through something and constantly see the glass as half empty, the odds of you bouncing back will remain bleak.
The most resilient people aren’t the way they are by chance, they cultivate that mentality by actively shifting their perspective.
Gratitude in this world is far rarer than you think.
So if you’re able to regularly remind yourself of things you’re grateful for amidst your difficulties, focusing on what’s going well, not just what’s going wrong, you’re in elite company.
Never lose that energy.
7) They know how to set boundaries
Remember, misery loves company.
They say you’re the average of the five people you spend the most time with… a sentiment I’ve found to be mostly true.
Don’t hang around people who will bring you down further down into the abyss.
Avoid toxicity. Protect your energy rather than drain it.
Set limits on activities and people that deplete you, and pursue the types of people who will help give you perspective–and give you balance and meaning.
Preserve your strength for the things in life that matter the most.
8) They can stay optimistic
It’s hard to teach optimism, but some people just have it within them.
These types of people can maintain hope for the future rather than dwelling in excess about spilled milk and what could go wrong again.
They have the innate mindset that things will improve over time, an overarching sensation that helps them persevere through challenges, big and small.
Remember, setbacks in this life are temporary, and failure at some point is all but guaranteed.
It’s how you bounce back from adversity that will ultimately define you, and your worth on this planet.