The concept of resilience covers several areas such as psychology, management and strategy. It is used in different contexts with nuances of meaning, most of which boils down to the notion of adapting to the circumstances of a shocking event.
In psychology, the term refers in its strict sense (introduced by Boris Cyrulnik) the ability to cope with a tramatism without being affected later or find ways to rebuild after. In a broader sense, it is the ability to continue life after a shock or traumatic event by defining an immediate and restored stability.
In other words, this ability allows humans to use their skills and strengths to cope with an emotional shock to continue to live.
The human being has a very great ability to adapt and overcome disasters and adversity. Individuals and communities are able to rebuild their lives after a devastating tragedy.
But to adapt is not to go through the traumatic event without experiencing stress and pain. Everyone feels tristress, anger after a personal or community disaster. The road to resilience lies in working on these emotions, on the effects of stress, on the painful event.
Resilience is not something we have or not at birth. This ability develops throughout life.
Resilience is manifested in a variety of thoughts and behaviors that can be learned and developed.
The characteristics of resilience
We are more or less different in our adaptive skills, but we are all capable of developing, strengthening or improving the skills that characterize resilience.
Emotion management
Resilient people are aware of the situation and the resulting emotional reactions. To manage emotions, it is essential to define the emotion and to find out why it is invading us. By managing our emotions, we maintain control of the situation and we can reflect on the solutions and consequences of the situation.
The idea that failure is part of life
Resilient people are aware that life is full of challenges and that while we can not avoid a number of negative events, we can stay open and ready to adapt to change.
An internal control locus
The locus of control is a concept of social psychology that defines how we perceive the causes of what is happening to us. The "internal" think that they have a source in ourselves, while the "external" think that the other, the outside is the cause of what happens to him. Resilient people tend to believe that the actions they take will affect the outcome of an event. Some factors are totally out of our control, that's obvious. But it is always possible to make choices for the future.
Good social relations
Whenever we are faced with a difficult or even traumatic event, it is important to know how to seek support. Talking about what we live allows us to take a step back, to express our emotions.
Become a survivor and not a victim
This is certainly the most important feature. We must avoid thinking of ourselves as a victim because when we define ourselves as a victim, we have no issue and we remain stuck in the past. If we think ourselves surviving, we will focus on the future and think action.
Being able to ask for help
Help is an essential part of resilience. During a crisis, facing a traumatic event, do not hesitate to consult a psychologist. From experience, I can say that the faster you come to consult and the faster you will not need it anymore.
It can also be useful to read stories of those who have lived and overcame a similar event, both to motivate themselves and to find ideas for coping.