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(+ Strategies to Gain Resilience and Psychological Flexibility)
I think the best way to describe life is as a series of ups and downs - an unpredictable journey of joys and challenges. Life’s variability is part of the human experience. Yet, our ability to navigate these highs and lows often dictates our overall well-being and satisfaction. Philosophers throughout history have alluded to this inevitable cycle of fortune and misfortune, while psychologists, through numerous studies, have affirmed the dynamism of life.
While the highs are easy to take, challenges can often take me by surprise and drain me. Not surprisingly, research shows that life events and experiences can significantly impact our psychological health, highlighting the importance of being able to cope effectively with change.
So, in this article, I share some psychological insights into dealing with and navigating life's ups and downs by fostering resilience and psychological flexibility.
The Vital Role of Resilience in Navigating Life's Ups and Downs
Resilience is our capacity to bounce back from difficulties, to adapt in the face of adversity. It's the 'bounce-back' factor that helps us recover from life's lows and harness the power of its highs.
But resilience embodies more than mere survival. It involves the ability to adapt in the face of challenges, maintain a degree of equilibrium amidst life's fluctuations, and harness adversity as a catalyst for growth and development. Without resilience, we could find ourselves swept away by the current of hardships, with our well-being and life satisfaction negatively impacted.
Numerous scientific studies have shed light on the pivotal role of resilience in our lives. A key finding from research conducted by Southwick, Bonanno, Masten, Panter-Brick, and Yehuda in 2014 is that resilience significantly contributes to positive mental health outcomes. Their research showed that resilient individuals are often able to cope more effectively in the face of traumatic events. They manage to sustain their mental health and maintain functional levels of physical well-being, despite the challenges thrown their way.
Something that is often overlooked is that, in the context of life's highs, resilience also plays a crucial role. It allows us to relish our successes and periods of tranquillity without complacency or fear that the good times will end. It provides the balance necessary to keep us grounded, even as we ride life's peaks.
5 Strategies to Build Resilience
Building resilience is a multifaceted process, requiring attention to various aspects of our lives. In addition to maintaining a positive outlook, cultivating social connections, and practising mindfulness, there are several other evidence-based strategies to build resilience:
1) Look After Your Physical Wellbeing
Ensuring a healthy lifestyle through regular exercise, a balanced diet, and adequate sleep can bolster resilience. Physical wellbeing directly impacts mental strength. Regular physical activity, for instance, has been associated with improved mood and reduced stress (Mandolesi et al., 2018).
2) Practice Emotion Regulation
Learning to manage and understand your emotions contributes significantly to resilience. This includes strategies such as self-soothing when distressed, expressing emotions in a healthy manner, and using relaxation techniques (Troy & Mauss, 2011).
3) Seek Professional Help
Utilising mental health professionals, such as psychologists or counsellors, can equip individuals with coping mechanisms and therapeutic strategies to enhance resilience (Galatzer-Levy et al., 2018).
4) Continual Learning and Self-Development
The pursuit of personal growth and lifelong learning can strengthen resilience. This may involve learning new skills, pursuing a hobby, or engaging in activities that promote self-efficacy (Bandura, 1997).
5) Practise Gratitude
Keeping a gratitude journal or consciously acknowledging what you are thankful for can boost positivity and resilience (Emmons & McCullough, 2003).
The Role of Psychological Flexibility
Psychological flexibility is the ability to adapt to shifting situations, change strategies when they are not working, and continue towards one's goals. According to Kashdan and Rottenberg (2010), psychological flexibility is vital in managing life's changes as it allows us to adapt and grow in the face of challenges. Developing psychological flexibility often involves cognitive-behavioural techniques, like acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), that encourage openness to all experiences, even uncomfortable ones, and promote action in line with personal values.
Cultivating Psychological Flexibility: 5 Key Strategies
Here are some of my favourite evidence-based strategies to cultivate psychological flexibility:
1) Mindful Awareness
Developing mindfulness skills can promote psychological flexibility by enhancing awareness of the present moment and increasing acceptance of thoughts and feelings (Hayes et al., 2006).
2) Value Clarification
Identifying and clarifying personal values can guide behaviour and decision-making, supporting psychological flexibility (Smout et al., 2014).
3) Cognitive Defusion
This involves learning to view thoughts as transient mental events rather than literal truths. Techniques might include labelling thoughts (e.g., "I'm having the thought that...") or visualising thoughts as leaves flowing down a stream (Hayes & Smith, 2005).
4) Acceptance
This is about embracing all experiences without judgement, even the uncomfortable ones. Acceptance allows us to face challenges more effectively instead of wasting energy on futile resistance (Hayes et al., 2006).
5) Committed Action
This strategy involves taking steps aligned with your values, even in the face of difficulties. It's about living in a way that reflects who you want to be and what matters most to you (Harris, 2013).
Remember, building both resilience and psychological flexibility is a process, not an overnight transformation. So, wherever you can, be patient with yourself.
There are two other important aspects about navigating life's ups and downs. They are practicing self-care as well as maintaining perspective.
The Role of Self-Care in Navigating Life's Ups and Downs
While resilience and psychological flexibility aid in adapting to life's fluctuations, self-care lays the foundation for overall well-being. Self-care involves actively taking steps to preserve or improve one's health, both physically and mentally.
In the face of life's ups and downs, maintaining a regular self-care routine can provide a sense of stability and control. Neff's (2011) study found that self-care behaviours are linked with greater life satisfaction and lower levels of stress. Ask yourself what you can do to be more self-compassionate and look after yourself.
How to Maintain Perspective During Life's Highs and Lows
Maintaining perspective is crucial when navigating through life's peaks and valleys. In periods of hardship, reminding ourselves that life's downs are temporary can provide comfort and strength.
Conversely, during life's ups, it's essential to savour the moment while remaining grounded, recognising that life is cyclic. Psychologists refer to this perspective-keeping as "cognitive reappraisal," a strategy that Gross's (2002) research shows to be effective in managing emotional responses to various situations.
The Best We Can Do is to Embrace the Journey
Navigating life's ups and downs involves understanding the inherent fluctuating nature of life, cultivating resilience, developing psychological flexibility, practising self-care, and maintaining perspective. Above all, embracing life as a journey rather than a destination allows us to find meaning and growth in all of life's phases, creating an enriching human experience.
I hope you enjoyed this read and the strategies to cultivate more resilience and psychological flexibility to get through this rollercoaster called life.
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