Resilience: Our Ability to Adapt to Change

Resilience is our ability to adapt and deal with change in our life. This successful adjusting and monitoring of our lifestyle to match a changing scenario is extremely important. 

 A successful adaptation is the key to being happy and content with whatever life happens to throw at us at any given moment. Although we may not always notice it occurring we are in a process of constant adaptation. It is how we learn to deal with the ever changing circumstances within our life.

 There are times when we can easily accommodate these new aspects into our current pattern of living but there are also times when it can be more difficult. Adjusting to change does not always come naturally. Fortunately for us man is a highly resilient creature. We have a strong instinct for survival and it can help us to overcome the many obstacles that we face throughout our lifetime.

 We grow from a baby into a child, from a child to a teenager, and from a teen into an adult. Change is constant so we don't always notice it occurring although our lives are in a constant state of adaption. We can generally manage these adjustments without too much difficulty, as we enter each new phase of our life we judge our current circumstances and then we adapt to them.

 The more gradual the change is then the easier it is for us to accept and incorporate it into our lifestyle. We simply discover our place within the new circumstances and carve out our own unique niche there. Abrupt or sudden changes though can be more difficult to adjust to. A job loss, the death of someone close to us or an unexpected separation can bring on deep feelings of disillusionment and depression. These are life changes that can take longer for us to accept and accommodate.

 One of the more difficult life changes to adapt to is that which occurs during our teen years. Teens often experience difficulty in adjusting and monitoring their changing lifestyle as they swing from childhood to teen and then into adulthood. Teens often fight a tug and pull battle between wanting to scurry into the safety of childhood and wanting to leap too far forward into adulthood. Parents also add additional stress to this issue as they attempt to discover and define the boundaries of the teen years.

 Adjusting to high school can add additional stress. It means a new school, new social interactions, and new expectations for the teen. There is of course the issue of changing hormone levels during this period which also add an additional degree of emotional turmoil into the mix. It can be a period of life that isn't easy to adjust to but over time things generally work themselves into place.

 Fortunately the same rules for adaption apply to all the changes we experience

 1. We discover what has changed.
2. We examine our weaknesses and strengths in this new set of circumstances.
3. We adapt by finding the best niche for us to fit into.
4. We begin to let go of the negative feelings and develop an appreciation for the positive aspects of the new situation we are in and of the person we have become.

 Get outside. Sunshine and Fresh Air are Powerful Stimulants


A sense of humour is a great way to ease stress brought on during difficult times. It can help put things back into perspective again. Smile, laugh, and try not to put too much pressure on yourself. We are all human and we don't always see eye to eye on every issue. A smile, laughter, and a little hug can make even the worst situation feel a whole lot better.

 It can at times feel as though we have become a completely different person. It happens. Our life situation changes so we also change in order to once again feel comfortable within the new arrangement. Whenever we enter a new phase of life or experience new events such as a marriage or the birth of a child we are forced to adapt.

 When we marry we commit ourselves to sharing our lives with another person and we adapt accordingly. It is a major shift in out lifestyle. Generally it takes at least the first two years of this union just to work out the give and take within the arrangement. The majority of us successfully manage this adaptation process. Becoming a parent is another major phase of our life and one that again requires a large process of adaption. Before the birth of a child we begin to gather items and advice to help us to prepare for this very dramatic change to our lifestyle. This preparation can help to make the adjustment easier as we move into our new role of parenthood. No parenting manual can cover everything so this is a lifestyle change that is learn as you go.

 Expected changes are generally much easier to adapt to than are sudden or unexpected events. The end of a long term love relationship, the death of a loved one, a sudden illness, or the onset of a disability can be much more difficult events to adjust to.
We are usually not given time to prepare for the sudden shifting of these events and unexpected losses can make a person feel like they have suddenly been picked up and tossed into a different time and place. These sudden upheavals can be more than a little confusing but if you follow the 4 basic rules of adaptation you will find your way into a new pattern of normal within this circumstance.

 Assertiveness training can help to build improved social skills and aide in times of crisis. The techniques are quite simple to learn. Even a child can generally grasp these concepts. All it takes is a little patient practice to bring the power of assertiveness training techniques into your daily routine. It may help.

 An adequate adjustment to ones current life circumstances is extremely important in order for a person to have contentment with their life. Things may not feel as comfortable as they did in the past but they logically will not until you have become used to them. This means monitoring your lifestyle in order to come up with a realistic picture of your new circumstances. Be honest in your assessment.

 Don't try to cling to the past but instead work at adjusting your lifestyle so that you are able to best fit successfully into your new circumstances. Focus on what you have rather than what you no longer have. Pinpoint the most important elements that you require in your life to make you content and then strive to acquire these within your new circumstances.

 Be honest in your assessment of the things which you are able to accomplish in your new circumstances. Rather than focusing on the things which you can no longer do focus on those that you can. Be patient and allow yourself time to adjust to your new circumstances. Remind yourself that this is just another experience along the pathway that is your life. Walk a little slower till you get your footing on the new ground. Look around you as you move forward into your new lifestyle and enjoy the view as you go.

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