Photo Credit: Resilience, Seoraksan National Park, South Korea, Chris Campbell, Flickr
Let’s talk about resilience – that ability to weather hardship over time; to endure and stand strong; to bounce back to a new normal. A new normal not thrust on us but one we help create.
“Resilience is the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or even significant sources of stress – such as family and relationship problems, serious health problems, or workplace and financial stressors. It means “bouncing back” from difficult experiences.” – The Road to Resilience
When strong winds come (whether illness, financial setbacks, or social distancing prescribed to avoid COVID-19), we can bend or break.
Photo Credit: Wallpaper Flare
There is a more middle place as well, when the bending leaves us bent rather than just stretched. We are in a season where we might feel bent. In a “fog” of sorts, disoriented by our circumstances, ill-equipped for what we currently face. The lethargy, fatigue, and emotional/mental dullness are confusing when we actually have more opportunity than ever before to create and innovate.
This is where resilience comes in. After weeks of “staying at home”, getting work done in different ways than before, we are teetering on whether to remain cautious or throw caution to the wind.
Tapping into that mental energy for decisive action can move us toward resilience. What do we want as a long-term outcome of this season?
Author James Clear writes about habit formation. He says it takes 2 months or so for a new habit to become automatic. He also cautions against focusing on the amount of time it takes more than the work it takes. “Do the work”. From Day 1 until whatever day our lives will “return” to normal.
Have you thought about what you hope to gain from this time we’re in “together”? We can’t control everything, of course. We will continue to have days where it seemed we weren’t able to accomplish much more than keeping our kids safe and fed. Underneath the sluggishness of this season of “staying well” or “staying in” for the sake of others…there is a rock-solid foundation of future possibility.
Let’s go after resilience. Let this be something we and our children look back on as a gain from 2020. 
Photo Credit: George Mason University
I’d love to hear your thoughts, your struggles, and how you are tackling the framing of that new normal. How are you staying mentally and emotionally engaged in spite of social distancing?
I’d like to close with some wisdom from Patrick Lencioni:
The world’s shortest speech for those who won’t have a graduation. “Turn your hardships into blessings. Mourn the loss of graduation, but let it motivate you in 2 ways: become resilient in the face of setbacks & maintain relationships with friends whose good-byes were stolen.”
— Patrick Lencioni (@patricklencioni) May 4, 2020
Hope Despite Coronavirus Fatigue – Trillia Newbell – my inspiration for today’s post
The Road to Resilience – Excellent resource (pdf)
Enhancing Resilience – Beth Payne (quick & helpful read)
The 6 Domains of Resilience – Jurie Rossouw (deeper dive, another excellent resource)
7 Successful Battle Strategies to Beat COVID-19 – Euvin Naidoo – for both work and personal life