Had it not been for resilience… humanity, science and the world would not have progressed from where it started…
Remarkable is the come-back of those who suffer irreparable loss, misfortune, disasters. Countless are examples of people across cultures and countries who overcame immense pitfalls, yet build a better future for themselves.
What is resilience?
Psychologists define resilience as the process of adapting well in the face of adversity or significant, impending stressors such as..in the environment, health, family, workplace, finances and relationships.
Why it Matters?
Survival being paramount, being more resilient helps us get through difficult circumstances, empowers us to grow and improve our life along the way.
There are also significant other reasons why ‘not giving up just yet’ makes more practical sense…
‘Not Giving up just yet’? Here’s why…
1. Positive In… Positive Around…
When we look at the world through a rose coloured lens, we harness our inner positivity. Optimism, once revived can lift us from a downward spiral, renew our enthusiasm and energy. We can then analyse our existing problems in a different light and more often than not, with creative solutions, hitherto considered impossible…
2. From Failure To success…
Innovation and success did not happen overnight. It is the product of continual trial and error, of research, correction, communication, relaunch. Every cycle incorporates significant learning and change and rebuilds on the successes and failures of the past.
Take the example of these cases where massive success would not have been possible if they had given up.
Steve Jobs, forced out of Apple; the company he founded–in 1985. After Jobs’s exit, the company entered a downward spiral. Then in 1997, with Apple just months away from bankruptcy, Jobs returned to the company and by 2011 not only turned Apple into the biggest company on the planet, but drastically catapulted the company to a trendsetter in music and smartphone segments by giving us the iMac, iPod, and iPhone.
Steve Jobs said, “I didn’t see it then, but it turned out that getting fired from Apple was the best thing that could have ever happened to me.”
Perhaps the most iconic entertainment company to have ever existed is the Walt Disney Company. Disney is one of the most universally recognisable brands.
As Walt Disney said in 1957: “All the adversity I’ve had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me… You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.”
The story of Walt Disney had a very different start, he experienced multiple failures in jobs and businesses, without losing sight of his dream, he launched the Hollywood Studio and received an outstanding 59 nominations for Academy Awards during his lifetime.
3. Believe: You have everything you need
As we envision our success in all its details, we give ourselves conviction and belief that we have what it takes to achieve those special milestones in our life.
By affirming faith in our capabilities and capacity, we set the stage for action! We can then employ tools of perseverance and hard work to work towards this vision and convert our dreams into reality.
4. Reframe your Experience as Learning
Confronting failure head-on also puts us in a unique position to analyse what went wrong, an opportunity to discover what one can do differently, going forward. Regardless of how successful the project was or not, you’ve gained valuable experience and knowledge. Sometimes, the acute observation and insight we need is right after experiencing the pitfall and this is what makes our next move, even more effective!
5. Do the Goals need changing?
All too often, we continue to pursue a goal that is not realistic. The famous acronym for goal setting says that your goals should be classified as SMARRT, specific, measurable, achievable, realistic/ relevant, and timely. However, sometimes we pursue goals and invest more and more time and money on decisions that have outlived their value.
The best way to check this natural inclination to stay invested in a project is to determine what it has cost you already and what it will continue to cost you in the future. Think and write clearly your gains and losses and what if you change the trajectory.
This exercise will give you the insight and direction to correct your course and ‘RESET’ your goals to those viable, desired and achievable ones.
6. There are ‘Outside’ Factors too.
Often, we tend to take blame for everything that goes wrong with a project/ goal, thinking that all success and failure are attributed to our inefficiencies and mistakes.
However, we fail to give credit to the other reasons which are beyond our control, the COVID crisis, the global economic conditions, trade sanctions, instability, health trends, anything beyond our own could also bring the house down.. quite literally?
The more you become aware about the things that you cannot control, the more clarity you will have on how to go forward.
To sum up:
Quitting your goals, dreams and life is the quicker/ easier/ safer option because our body and mind would like to be set free of the constant struggle to pursue and push for our goals.
However, personal experience will make you reflect that when something is easy, the happiness, satisfaction and pleasure you derive from it is also short lived…light as a bubble.
For the long hours, months, and years that you invest to achieve your goals, ‘giving up’ in a matter of instant is like a bubble which you blew, a bubble that will blow away just as easy as it came.
However, if you persevere and complete what you set out to do, you will float in the sweet thrill of your air balloon and enjoy the panorama of life for years to come..until the next challenge nudges you!
We need purpose, meaning and action in our days to thrive. And the simple strategy of ‘not giving up just yet’ can have powerful ramifications on the satisfaction quotient of our days. So, each time you face a cross roads and don’t know how to proceed…Remember and Reflect
‘I am not giving up just yet’ attitude will embolden you to think, act and persevere in innovative ways.
#life lessons # positive psychology # wellness at work # life
