Questions related to resilience have interested psychologists for many years. Why is it that some children born in chaotic families go on to have successful lives while others fail to thrive?
Where do narcissistic abuse survivors get the strength to “bounce back” and overcome the damage that narcissists have inflicted upon them? How do they overcome the damage inflicted by the abuse, such as negative self talk and the resulting low self esteem?
The answer is resilience, which is defined by psychologists as the process of adapting to the difficult circumstances that life throws at you. This ability is critical for surviving and healing after experiencing adversity, including the trauma caused by narcissistic abuse.
In order to understand this phenomenon we have to keep in mind that a child is born with a number of innate protective factors and vulnerabilities. Protective factors include characteristics such as high intelligence or good temperament. Vulnerabilities are traits such as allergies or a genetic predisposition to be aggressive.
It is this mix of factors that impact the resilience of a person.
What is resilience?
Resilience is the ability to recover quickly from difficult or challenging situations. It is a vital trait for success in both life and work. Resilience involves adapting to changes, bouncing back from adversity and accepting the things we cannot control. Building resilience requires hard work, determination and self-awareness and can help you cope with stress, trauma and even failure.
Resilience is important because it helps us to cope with life’s challenges. It enables us to overcome adversity and emerge stronger from tough experiences.
What factors contribute to resilience?
Resilience is a crucial trait to have in order to navigate through life’s challenges. It involves bouncing back from difficult situations and adapting to changes, no matter how challenging they may be.
Building resilience takes hard work, determination and self-awareness, but the results can be life-changing. The following are the key factors which contribute to developing and maintaining resilience.
Self-Awareness: Knowing your strengths and weaknesses, understanding what motivates and inspires you, and recognizing when you need help.
Support System: A network of family, friends, colleagues and professionals who can provide encouragement and guidance in difficult times.
Emotional Regulation: Learning how to control impulses and respond with appropriate emotions; using self-regulation techniques such as mindfulness meditation to remain calm and focused in challenging situations.
Adaptability: The ability to adjust quickly to changing circumstances or environments; knowing when to take risks or ask for help.
Optimism: The belief that good things will come even in the face of adversity; an attitude that allows for hope even during hard times.
Problem-Solving Skills: Having the ability to identify problems, weigh options, think critically about solutions, and make thoughtful decisions under pressure.
Communication Skills: Being able to effectively express feelings, share ideas, listen attentively and resolve conflicts constructively.
Confidence/Self Esteem: Feeling capable of achieving goals despite obstacles; having a positive view of oneself which supports taking action rather than giving up in difficult times.
Courage/Persistence: Not giving up regardless of the difficulty involved; being willing to take necessary risks without fear of failure or rejection by others.
Flexibility/Creativity: Remaining open minded and coming up with innovative solutions; using existing resources creatively rather than getting stuck on one way of thinking or acting upon challenges.
Can resilience be learned?
Yes, resilience can be learned and developed over time. It involves building on your existing strengths and resources, as well as cultivating new skills such as self-awareness, emotional regulation and problem-solving.
With dedication and practice, even those who feel they lack resilience can learn to cultivate this important trait.
Acknowledge Your Emotions
The first step to building resilience is acknowledging your emotions, which involves really taking the time to pay attention to how you are feeling and allowing yourself to experience those emotions without judgement. This helps you process them in a healthy way, instead of getting lost in a whirlwind of unhelpful thoughts or overwhelming feelings.
It’s important to take the time to recognize what triggers these emotional responses and consider how best to manage them effectively.
Building self-awareness can help with this as it allows you to understand your values and beliefs and how they shape your behaviour. Additionally, practicing mindfulness techniques like grounding exercises or progressive muscle relaxation can help you maintain control of your emotions during difficult situations.
Stay Positive: Keeping an optimistic outlook and connecting with others who support and understand you can help build emotional resilience. Try not to dwell on the negative aspects of harsh realities, but rather focus on the positives and what can be gained from any given situation.
Practice Self-Care
Staying positive is key to building emotional resilience in difficult times. Keeping an optimistic outlook, reaching out to supportive people, and engaging with activities that bring joy can help you stay resilient when things get tough. It’s important to try and not dwell too much on the negative aspects of harsh realities, but rather focus on the positives and what can be gained from any situation.
Strategies like practising gratitude and shifting your perspective can be helpful for this, as well as engaging in conversations about topics other than the current hardships. Doing something you enjoy each day, such as going for a walk outdoors or listening to music, can also provide a welcome break from focusing on life’s difficulties.
In addition, proper nutrition, sufficient sleep, and exercise will also help your mental health, improve your overall fitness, and also reduce anxiety and help clear your mind.
On the other hand, self-medicating with alcohol or drugs should be avoided at all costs. Although they may provide temporary relief from stress or emotional pain, these substances will not address the root cause of the problem and can even worsen one’s mental state in the long run.
Develop Problem-Solving Skills
Developing problem-solving skills is a key component in building emotional resilience. When faced with difficulties and challenges, having the ability to come up with solutions that are tailored to your individual needs and circumstances can help you reach a better outcome.
Working through problems logically can also help you become aware of any potential obstacles or issues that might arise so that you can plan ahead and make informed decisions.
Additionally, taking the time to brainstorm different angles and approaches to tackling a problem can be beneficial for finding creative solutions. Establishing flexible problem-solving techniques such as trial and error will help refine these skills over time, allowing you to assess which strategies work best for you in various situations.
Cultivate Self-Awareness
Cultivating self-awareness is an important part of building emotional resilience. Understanding your unique values, beliefs, strengths, and weaknesses will help you become more aware of how they affect your behaviour and responses in different situations.
Knowing yourself better will also allow you to gain clarity on what works best for you when facing challenges in life. Taking the time to reflect on various aspects of yourself such as your emotions, motivations, decision-making style and coping mechanisms can be beneficial for gaining insight into who you are and how you interact with the world around you.
Develop a Strong Support Network
Developing a strong support network is an essential part of building emotional resilience. Connecting with people who have experienced the same trauma as you can be a powerful source of comfort and solace when you are in need of assistance.
Joining a narcissistic abuse survivor community or other online support groups will give you a space to share your story and listen to others’ experiences. Surround yourself with people who understand what you are going through can help remind you that you are not alone.
Building rapport with those in your environment, such as family and close friends, can also be beneficial for forming meaningful relationships which provide the stability and trust necessary for managing difficult times.
Additionally, having mentors or coaches in whom you can confide can provide advice, guidance, and accountability when making decisions so that your long-term goals remain in sight.
Final Thoughts about Resilience
Resilience is ultimately the result of a number of coping strategies and behaviours. Some might come to us naturally, thanks to the lottery of life. However, even if you are naturally resilient, it is possible to enhance your coping strategies and behaviours with the right attitude and effort.
With the right mindset and determination, you can create lasting positive changes in your life that will empower you to better manage any situation that comes your way.