In my introduction to \u201cThe 4 Keys to building Resilience\u201d, I mentioned that the keys were as follows:<\/p>\n
So, let\u2019s take a closer look at Key #2 \u2013 Get moving and set some goals<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Resilience is not always about how we react when the going gets tough, it\u2019s also about getting proactive, mindfully choosing an appropriate response and anticipating and dealing with setbacks and challenges. This requires us to:<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong>We all live inside an area called a comfort zone. It\u2019s the imaginary space containing all the activities we have done often enough to feel comfortable about. It also contains our ideas about what activities or sports we do, what new things we try, who we should be friends with, and so on.<\/p>\n You can visualize this zone of comfort as a circle, if you like. We like to believe that the wall of the circle keeps us safe, but it doesn\u2019t always work that way. What that wall sometimes keeps us from is getting all the things we want most.<\/p>\n If we are willing to venture outside of it often enough, we overcome our fear and our zone of comfort expands. Not only that, when we expand our comfort zone in one area, it automatically expands in others, as well. However, if we give in to our fears, that zone contracts.<\/p>\n So, what\u2019s the answer? To start, get up, get moving, and conquer your fears by doing what you need to do. Small steps first, and then the bigger ones. Little by little, day by day, you expand your comfort zone. It\u2019s good to be cautious but it\u2019s not good to be too cautious to the extent that you always play it safe and never take any risks. Be guided by your parents, your teachers or mates you know you can trust and take a few calculated risks \u2013 remember, one step at a time. Put your toe in the water before you dive in.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t stifle your own growth by never trying new things. No one likes to struggle, but sometimes struggles are good because they help us to grow.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong>We all have hot buttons \u2013 things that annoy us or behaviours of others that cause us to react in a way that is not always in our best interests. The interesting thing is that people have different hot buttons. What one person may find pleasant, another may find annoying or even frightening. Before we know how to respond better when our hot buttons are pushed, we need to know what they are.<\/p>\n Right now, make a list of your hot buttons.<\/p>\n Great!\u00a0\u2013 now that you are aware of some of them, you will probably realise that when these have been hit in the past, reacting without stopping to think of the consequences may have caused either you or others a lot of hurt or disappointment.<\/p>\n The good news is that there is a much better way!<\/p>\n When someone or something pushes your hot button, it\u2019s always best to hit the pause button. The key to a constructive response to a setback, challenge, obstacle or provocation is to pause and think <\/strong>before responding or deciding. And what you want to think about is this \u2013 \u201cHow can I respond in a way that will produce the best outcome not only for me but for others?\u201d<\/strong>. We call this a win-win outcome and it\u2019s always first prize.<\/p>\n We all feel overwhelmed at times. People get overwhelmed by different things for different reasons. A common cause for feeling overwhelmed is having too many things to do and not enough time or enough energy or confidence to get through it all. At times like this, it\u2019s tempting to just keep going but that can be a trap \u2013 we can end up feeling more anxious and more bogged down. What we need most is to get some perspective (ie look at things with fresh eyes) and the best way to gain a better perspective is\u2026 hit the pause button. Stop, get away from the situation for a while and ask yourself \u201cHow else can I approach this list of things to do or this issue or this obstacle?\u201d.<\/p>\n So, the next time you react to a challenge by saying, “I can’t,” stop yourself. Think again and ask yourself, “What if I could?”\u00a0You will be amazed by some of the insights you get when you pause to think.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong>Proactive people: make things happen by showing initiative;are resourceful; look for creative solutions to problems; look at things from a new perspective; create a new reality<\/p>\n \u2026and the best way to create a new reality is by setting some goals.<\/p>\n Where do you start? The most useful question to ask yourself is \u201cWhat do I want?\u201d. The important word in this sentence is \u201cI\u201d. It must be something you want, not what other people want for you or from you. Why? Because unless your goal is going to be of benefit to you, you will not have the drive and motivation to get there. Of course it\u2019s great if your goal happens to benefit other people too as that may give you even more of an incentive to succeed. But unless it is going to be of benefit to you, you are a lot less likely to succeed.<\/p>\n Now, you may know exactly what you want and that makes it easy to set and work towards the goal. However, we don\u2019t always know what we want and that\u2019s OK. If this is the case, ask yourself what is there about my life at the moment that I don\u2019t <\/strong>want? Often this is a lot easier to identify. Once you identify the things you don\u2019t want, narrow them down to the two or three most important things. Then ask yourself what it will be like, look like, feel like if the problem was solved. This then becomes the goal!<\/p>\n Writing your goal down gives you something\u00a0solid\u00a0to go back to, to refresh and reinforce. So whether you use paper and pencil or some electronic device, write it down.<\/p>\n Then, examine current reality (how things are today) – and write it down. How is it different? Again, be specific and detailed. Finally, take a good look at the “gap” between current reality and your goal. Fill in that gap by listing, in order, the steps you will need to take to move from current reality to your desired end-result. Be prepared to be flexible when you run into obstacles along the way.<\/p>\n So, don\u2019t delay \u2013 go ahead and set some goals today. Don\u2019t set too many. Rather work on two or three that are going to make the biggest difference to your life right now.<\/p>\n Stay tuned for the other 2 Keys to building Resilience.<\/p>\n\n
1. Get out of our comfort zone<\/strong><\/h2>\n
2. Hit the pause button<\/strong><\/h2>\n
3. Get proactive and set some goals<\/strong><\/h2>\n