The seeds of
resilience are sown during our
childhood by our guardians and parents. They have a profound influence on our
ability to be resilient. Having caring and supportive relationships within the
family bolsters a person’s resilience. A healthy parent-child relationship,
which depends on parenting style, plays a vital role in building the resilience
of an individual. Parents who raise their children by being firm, loving and
kind, who allow them to make healthy choices and take on more responsibility
produce children that are self-reliant, self-regulated and are able to adapt to
stress in the environment.
SUPPORTIVE
ENVIRONMENTS
Other than early
relationships, supportive environments also enable children to develop their
resilience. We are not just a product of nature but also nurture. Our
environment shapes who we are. Therefore, we need to design places and
institutions that impact the development of an individual and community’s
resilience.
NURTURING A POSITIVE
SELF-IMAGE
Another factor that
can help increase resilience is nurturing a positive view of oneself. “Who does
she look like, mom or dad?” is a stereo type comment we hear from family and
friends from the moment we are born. Our physical appearance takes centre stage
and we are conditioned to focus on our appearance. Most of us judge ourselves
harshly and find it hard to accept and love our physical self because of the
physical and metaphorical mirrors that speak to us each and every day.
OPTIMISM
Optimism is a belief
that good things will happen in the future. Cultivating optimism in children
will help them grow up being able to see and focus on the good in themselves,
in others and in the world around them.
EMOTION REGULATION
Therefore, people’s
ability to manage emotions is another critical factor in determining resilience
that is usually described as maintained or improved mental health in the face
of stress.
SPIRITUALITY
Spirituality can
function as a protective factor that can be used in times of crisis. Having a
sense of connection to something larger than oneself and understanding the
meaning and purpose of one’s life, facilitates the development of resilient
functioning in situations of adversity.
SELF-REGULATION
Self-regulation, also
known as self-control, self-discipline or will power is a critical building
block of resilience.
The
writer is a member of the Society of Pilar. He is a Clinical Psychologist and
Psychotherapist
