Becoming Resilient
We can build resilience
I recently watched a movie on Netflix about a family that survived the tsunami that devastated Thailand in 2004 called The Impossible. They survived against some incredible odds & I found myself questioning why I enjoy movies like this with my history of anxiety, CPTSD, Night Terrors, & fear of the ocean (although I don't shy away from getting into water). I've watched 2012, San Andreas, Independence Day, The Day After Tomorrow, Titanic, & Poseidon to name a few & I always have this emotionally charged response. This post will discuss the discoveries I made about myself as a result of an every day occurrence in my life. I want to show how I make my efforts to heal very practical by simply paying attention to my inner world. So let's get into it.
Conversations That Bring Introspection
I decided to tell my yoga instructor about my poor sleep the night before as result of getting revved up from watching that movie & forgetting who I was as a person. She discussed with me how in those types of movies there's always this overcoming of impossible situations. This was quite fitting for the movie The Impossible wasn't it? She then spoke on how I have overcome some seemingly impossible situations with great resilience & I'm always scanning for ways to build my resilience. I agree I have adapted to live my life in a way that keeps me safe & I also look for how I can avoid devastation should the unthinkable happen AGAIN.
Adaptations NOT Weaknesses
When we face trials, the brain seeks out ways to protect & remain safe, this is even more so the case when we have experienced trauma that rocks us to the core & leaves us feeling ill equipped to handle life. We often look for ways to protect & react even when there is no present danger. This over adaptation to abnormal experiences happening causes us to become weakened with symptoms such as adrenal fatigue, excessive weight gain, hypervigilance, poor sleep patterns, being jumpy/jittery, & many other bodily/mental/emotional reactions to stimuli when we allow it to rule our lives. It took me a very long time to be able to accept that my adaptations to what happened to me are not weaknesses, they are strengths & if I can channel them into a productive stream instead of an exhausting cycle I can become more resilient.
Resilience
So how have I become more resilient in the face of some pretty horrible experiences? I have built up a tool box to help me manage my life in a way that works for me. My tool box includes the following:
1. Therapy
2. Radical honesty with myself about who I am no matter what.
3. Accountability- I talk to safe others about what I have going on in my life.
4. Self Care- Developing a self care routine that includes a balance of rest & work is crucial to building resilience.
5. Reading up on who I am & other's experience with my diagnoses.
6. Being my own superhero- Nobody will champion you like you champion yourself.
7. Journaling
8. Meditation
9. Introspection/Reflection
10. Body Work- I go into detail about this in a previous blog post.
Developing Your Own Routine
It is important to figure out what works best for you. You can read all the blogs & books, listen to podcasts, & go to retreats but if you don't cultivate a practice that works for you during good & bad times what's the point. Take it slowly & really dig into what feels good for you on your journey. What makes your heart sing, what elevates your vibration, what makes you feel good? Those are the things you want to put into your tool box to help you become more resilient.
What do you use to make you more resilient? How have you gotten passed the impossible in your life? Let's talk about it.