Thank you for hanging in there with me as we explore not-so-fun topics related to spiritual trauma. Today, I'm sharing an important skill that helps us move forward in our lives following traumatic experiences. The process of adapting well and growing in response to trauma, tragedy, stress, and crisis is called resilience. Cultivating your resilience takes time, and intentional practice. The American Psychological Association recommends the following ways to increase your resilience:
Build your connections - Prioritize relationships with empathetic and understanding people so you aren’t alone in difficulty. In addition to one-on-one relationships, become active in a group - a church, a sports team, or other group that aligns with your interests.
Foster wellness - Take care of your body, engage in spiritual practices, avoid ways of masking your pain like alcohol and drugs.
Find Purpose - Help others through volunteering or supporting friends. Be proactive in acknowledging your emotions and engaging in self discovery. Move toward your goals, even small accomplishments. Look for opportunities for self-discovery.
Embrace healthy thoughts - Identify moments of irrational or catastrophic thinking and move toward balanced thought patterns. Accept that change is a part of life, discerning between what you can and cannot change. Maintain hope, visualizing what you want. Learn from your past experiences in order to respond effectively in difficult situations.
Seek professional support - When increasing your resilience, it is important to have consistent support over time from a professional who can help when you get stuck.
How strong is your resilience practice? What support do you need to be more resilient? If you would like my support on your journey toward resilience, email me (amy@broadwaychurchkc.org) and we'll schedule a time to talk.