The Key to Amplifying Resilience

Everyone faces hardships.

No matter who you are, or what kind of life you live, you will face hardships. We all face failure, grief and disappointment over and over. As we go about our lives, we usually try our best to avoid these moments… for obvious reasons.

Sometimes, we even avoid good things out of fear of these things… of being hurt or let down. Think about applying for your dream job or admitting feelings to someone you care about without the certainty that they feel the same way… the reason it’s so hard is because of the risk of failure or pain. It’s almost always easier to just avoid the situations.

Face our hardships

As hard as it is to face our own hardships, it can be even harder to watch others doing so. No one knows this more than parents. You may have heard of lawnmower parents, those who out of love, plough out any difficulties in a path before it can impact their children. Sadly though, this denies their kids the chance to get stronger. Yes, it’s important to be careful and diligent to protect your children (and yourself!) but if you take away all the difficulties, they won’t be prepared for the trials of the future. A great example is a duckling breaking out of its egg. It should not be helped because this fight prepares and strengthens it for the real world.

Hardships can make us grow

Without the occasional need to fight for ourselves, to experience pain and disappointment, we never build resilience which is key to a sustainable lifestyle.
No one likes hardships, but there is no denying that they shape us… and if we use these moments to grow, they can make us into stronger people.

James 1:2-3 says, “Dear brothers and sisters when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.”

It can be difficult to accept trials as an opportunity, but this mindset will not only help you through the obstacle but also help you reflect and learn from it. Hardships and our own mistakes are good teachers, but only when we reflect on them and use them to build up our resilience in the future.

Reflection Questions:

How have you dealt with a difficult time in your past? What did you learn from that?
Where are you facing hardships right now?
Where do you have chances to build resilience?