Resilience

Back in 2010, I interviewed for a job. The interviewer asked, " If you had to describe yourself using a word, what would that be?". I answered, "Resilient."

The funny thing was, I had googled and stumbled upon the word the evening before, in my naïve attempt to rock that interview, and thought to myself, "Yes, I'm resilient."

I got the offer. I guess I said all the right things.

However, at the time, little did I know what resilience meant. Fast forward to 2021, and time has taught me a few things about it.

I love the thrill of achieving a goal! 

If you've been there, you know that's the moment you live for - to feel invincible. The contrast is equally, if not more, brutal. A bad streak of losses and rejections can give your morale a jolt.

So how do you recover quickly? How do you summon the resilience within and get going again?

In my understanding, it comes down to two things: To remind myself "why" I want to get to the other side of that finish line while keeping my eyes on the prize. 

In simpler terms, as I have lived it, resilience is the outcome of being aware of your "why."

I have also learned to perceive loss as a lesson: a soft reflection on what led to it is a good teacher - conceivably a blessing in disguise. 

Treating myself with compassion and learning the lesson (from the loss) helps me sleep better and get over it quicker. Sometimes even motivates me to be better the next day.

Try it yourself.

And maybe the journey to the finish line may feel more of a joyride and not a roller coaster for you as well.

I am eager to learn about what makes you resilient.

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