Four Choices to Boost Resilience

As the UK comes out of the pandemic and all its associated struggles, now is a good time to reflect on some lessons learned and choose our way forward. The last two years has shown us how we respond to stress and struggle, some of it positive and some less so. And, there are still challenges and changes ahead. Two years of fear and anxiety will stick like glue to many people – how do we heal this? What about the hybrid workplace - how do we establish it and meet everyone’s needs? Economic pressures are also looming which will affect us all. How do we maintain resilience when we’re probably exhausted and wishing for a little respite, comfort and normality?

These four empowering choices will help you. We can cultivate wellbeing, helpful outcomes and can even be happy and inspired during volatile times. Nothing is concrete, life is fluid and flexible. In each moment we get to make new choices that set us on a totally different path. Your choice is your power.

1. Choose kindness

A lot of the tension I’ve witnessed during the pandemic has been caused by disagreements between people about whether we should lock down, wear masks and get vaccinated. The reality of life is that nothing is black and white, few things are simply right or wrong. Life is many shades of grey. We can’t expect every human to think, feel and act the same – it’s impossible. There is one Earth but 7.8 billion worlds – one in each person’s head. And each person’s world is determined by their unique life experience, their past, their beliefs, their emotions, culture and personality. That’s just how it is. We can release a lot of stress and conflict by accepting this. Instead of casting judgement, seek to understand. Instead of projecting hate, lead with love. See humans not enemies. Choose oneness not separation. A little compassion goes a long way in bringing us back together.

2. Choose to control the controllable 

As noted above, we can’t control other people. We also can’t control the pandemic, the government, the economy or the wider, complex world. The more we try to control these things, the more stress ourselves by giving energy to things we can’t affect. It’s akin to banging your head on a brick wall. Stop. Your energy is the currency of your life. Spend it wisely. Focus on what you can control and influence – your time, your relationships, your business, clients, team, career and contribution, your health, diet, personal development and wellbeing. Feed the things that feed you, mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually. The whole world need not be on your shoulders. Do what you can in your little part of the planet. That is enough.

3. Choose your own vision

Whilst we don’t want to ignore what’s going on out there, we need to understand that our focus creates our reality. Focussing on problems perpetuates them. Focussing on things ‘out there’ gives them power. Instead, divert your attention inwards. What would you love to be, do and have in your life? Humans are creators, everything in our material world started as an idea in someone’s head. We’re meant to live from the inside out, not the outside in. Many people have created abundance and wellbeing during the pandemic because, they focussed on their own goals and vision. What are yours? Turn off the news, tune out other people, come back home to yourself. You are not a bystander, the world does not get to create you, you get to create it. Choose what you want and act on it daily. If you do this consistently, you might be surprised at how much you can achieve, regardless of the pandemic and its after-effects.

4. Choose to accept pain

The previous generation had word wars, my Indian grandparents dealt with colonisation, there have been plagues, there are natural disasters, genocides and more. We must face the reality that life on planet Earth is tough! And often, growth, change and success come through these difficult times, not without them. “No mud no lotus” as said by Thich Nhat Hanh, the late Vietnamese monk. Pain is part of the process. It just is. Resistance is futile. Life requires resilience and endurance, which you do have within you, it’s in your nature. Don’t underestimate the power of your mind, heart and spirit. Choose to learn, grow and turn wounds into wisdom. Use your ingenuity, courage, faith and strength. Soon, you’ll look back and be so proud of how you made it through one of the toughest times of our generation.

If we do what we’ve always done, we’ll get what we’ve always gotten. So, I hope you’ll try something new by integrating these choices into your daily life. Wishing you wellness, love and best wishes for 2022.

Pinky Jangra is a Resilience Trainer, Coach and Consultant. Pinky brings wisdom to the workplace. Her bespoke training empowers teams in building their resilience, wellbeing and fulfilment. She understands the challenges and pressures of the modern workplace with over 10 years of experience working in management consulting and professional services. She has 15 years of expertise in human development and has trained with some of the world’s experts including Dr Gabor Maté and Dr John Demartini. In 2016 she was selected by Hay House Publishers and Psychologies Magazine as one of the UK’s top 5 New Voices in self-help and is a writer for The Positive Psychology People. 

You can connect with Pinky and enquire about her services on LinkedIn.