Some people, either genetically or intuitively, are born with more resilience than others. They’re the ones who smile in the face of adversity, reframe bad events as opportunities, and adopt a wait-and-see attitude about future threats.
This doesn’t mean that they don’t feel pain. Resilient people bleed like everyone else. But because they find ways to cultivate good feelings their discomfort doesn’t last as long. In other words, they rebound beautifully.
That’s because resilient people know a secret. They find a silver lining in even the worst of circumstances. And don’t kid yourself in calling this Pollyanna nonsense. It’s a skill that can be cultivated by everyone.
Due to a built-in survival mechanism, our brains are wired to pay attention to negative events. But in reality, we experience many more positive events. By noticing and appreciating those moments we make “deposits” that can later be drawn from our emotional back account.
Remember, this is a practice. You’re going against instinct, so be kind to yourself. The more you can leverage challenges as opportunities to grow, the more resilient you’re likely to be. Life will always throw a curve-ball. Half of the art of living is know how to catch it.
