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Life is full of challenges and uncertainties, and resilience is a quality that can be your superpower through it all. It's the ability to bounce back from setbacks, adapt to change, and keep moving forward with determination. As you navigate the ups and downs of life, building resilience is not just a valuable skill— it's essential for personal growth and wellbeing.
Here we'll explore five goal-focussed strategies to help you increase your resilience and face life's obstacles head-on:
1. Set Clear and Meaningful Goals
One of the important ways to be more resilient is to set goals that match your passions and vision. This can help keep you focussed on the bigger picture even in the face of challenges. Start by setting short-term goals which can serve as stepping stones to your long-term goals. Never underestimate the small wins, they will take you one step closer to your dreams!
Don’t forget: When setting a goal, be sure to make it S.M.A.R.T. If things don't go as planned, the first time, that's completely okay. It's all part of learning and growing, mistakes teach you what you can do differently next time. Don’t stop here! You can take your goal a step further and make it S.M.A.R.T.E.R:
Evaluate: What went well? What could be done differently? E.g. more time, smaller steps, more support etc.
Retry!: Apply what you learned from the first try and give it another go! “You haven’t failed at anything until you stop trying”
Always be curious, ask lots of questions, and don't be scared to think in your own creative way to solve problems. Every time you achieve a small goal, give yourself a high-five! 🙌
2. Develop a Growth Mindset
When things get tough, staying hopeful can be like a lifejacket that keeps you floating. A Growth Mindset means that you believe that anything can be improved with repeated attention and effort. This mindset can help you see the bright side of things and find new ways to solve problems.
Start by being thankful for the good stuff in your life and focusing on your strengths and unique qualities, rather than what you are lacking. It could be your family, friends or even a pet! Also, hang out with people who make you happy and support you – they're like your hype squad!
The language you use when speaking to yourself is also very powerful. If you ever find yourself thinking, "I can't do this," switch it to, "I'm going to give it my best shot!". Remember, even when things seem really tricky, experience is always the best teacher.
3. Embrace Change
Change is a big, unavoidable part of life. Being able to remain positive and adjust when things are changing around you is a useful skill to have, called adaptability. It's like being a chameleon that can change colours when it needs to!
Sometimes, things won't go the way you planned and it ok to feel upset about it - the main thing is not staying down! Think of change as an adventure, it's your chance to have different experiences and learn new things. This makes you stronger, smarter and more resilient.
4. Prioritize Self-Care
By taking care of your physical and mental wellbeing, you're making sure that you have the energy to cope when life gets a bit tougher with any small or big challenges.
There are a few simple things you can do for your physical and mental wellbeing to be more resilient: healthy eating habits, regular exercise or any movement that you enjoy, a good sleep routine and staying hydrated. Engage in activities that you enjoy and that help you destress, and never hesitate to seek help when needed.
If you’re ever struggling to cope and need to talk to someone, here are a few useful links:
5. Build a Supportive Network
🌟 Did you know that having a team of cheerleaders can help you through tough times? It's like having your own special support squad.
Here’s how you can build up your support network:
Find your Tribe: These are people who make you smile and feel good, like your family, friends, and teachers or youth workers.
Find Your Guides: Look for people who can give you great advice. This could be a mentor, a key worker or even a cool older relative.
Join Forces: Surround yourself with people who have similar interests to you or who dream big like you do. Let this be your space to share your goals and support each other in achieving them!
Having all these people around you is like building a super team. They can give you a high-five when you do well, help you up if you stumble, and always be there to listen and understand. So remember, we’re all stronger when we have others cheering us on!
By becoming more resilient, you can adapt better to stressful situations, handle life’s ups and downs, and grow stronger and wiser with each hardship you face. Building resilience is a lifelong process, but with the right strategies, mindset and people to support you, you’ll continue to grow and thrive no matter what life throws at you! You’ve got this!
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