In today's fast-paced and uncertain world, maintaining good mental health has become more important than ever. However, it's not always easy to cope with the challenges that life throws at us, and many people struggle to maintain a positive mindset when faced with adversity.
For leaders, this not only impacts their own ability to deal with adversity, it also determines the conditions their teams work within, and how they, in turn, are able to deal with day-to-day personal and business challenges.
Developing personal resilience is one effective way to manage stress, build coping skills and maintain good mental health. In this article, we'll explore some practical strategies that can help you develop resilience and maintain good mental health.
The first step in developing personal resilience is to cultivate a growth mindset. This means adopting a positive and flexible attitude towards challenges, and viewing setbacks as opportunities for growth rather than insurmountable obstacles. This mindset is characterized by a willingness to learn from mistakes, a belief in one's ability to overcome obstacles, and a focus on the present moment rather than past failures or future uncertainties.
An effective way to go about this is to leverage a process that identifies the steps needed to work through the challenge. Following the process in itself develops a sense of control. Identifying the steps makes the challenge more manageable, facilitates learning/adaptation along the way, and allows for a sense of progress.
Another important aspect of resilience is having a strong support network. This can include colleagues, mentors, family, and friends. Having people who you can turn to for advice, or just a listening ear as you work through the implications and possible approaches to dealing with your challenge. Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness, and seeking support when you need it is an essential part of maintaining good mental health.
Self-care is another critical component of resilience. This means taking care of your physical, emotional, and mental well-being through healthy habits like regular exercise, a balanced diet, adequate sleep, and relaxation techniques like meditation or deep breathing. It also means setting boundaries, saying no to activities or commitments that drain your energy, and making time for activities that bring you joy and fulfillment.
Coping skills are tools and techniques that you can use to manage stress, regulate your emotions, and maintain a productive mindset in the face of adversity. Developing your self-awareness so that you recognize a negative situation or interaction, and having a strategy on how you respond to those signals will ensure that you have the “muscle memory” to leverage the right techniques in the moment.
Examples of coping skills include mindfulness meditation, cognitive reframing, and problem-solving techniques. Even simple advance planning on your response to types of situations is a highly effective strategy.
Recognizing and leveraging your personal strengths, talents, and abilities helps you overcome challenges and achieve your goals. By focusing on what you do well and building on your strengths, you can develop a sense of confidence and self-efficacy that can help you maintain a positive outlook and cope with stress more effectively. It also helps you identify who you need in your support network to complement and round out your ability to deal with challenges.
In conclusion, developing personal resilience is an essential component of maintaining good mental health. It’s a core skill associated with emotional intelligence and your ability to lead others to success and fulfillment.
About the Author
Gavin Pommernelle is the President of Werq, as well as an experienced Executive Coach and strategic advisor who works with C-suite teams and leaders to drive exceptional results. Connect with him further on his Linkedin.