Building Resilience: Overcoming Challenges in Adulthood

It's no secret that life is full of challenges. We may experience challenges and adversity at any age and adulthood is no exception. For me personally, resilience is one of my key qualities that has helped me on my journey. As we navigate the journey into adulthood, we often encounter obstacles that test our resilience, determination and courage. However, with a growth mindset and the right strategies, we can overcome these challenges and emerge stronger than ever. Let's explore some examples, thoughts, and tips on building resilience.

Positive mindset

One of the key aspects of building resilience is developing a positive mindset (I talk about this in my previous blog post around cultivating a positive mindset for success). It's important to remember that challenges are a natural part of life and can provide incredibly valuable opportunities for growth and learning. Instead of viewing setbacks as failures, reframe them as stepping stones towards success - learn from the journey and outcome and utilise this new knowledge to your advantage. Cultivating a positive mindset allows you to approach challenges with optimism and determination, enabling you to bounce back stronger and contribute to your journey of building resilience.

Your support network

Another important aspect of building resilience is seeking support. Resilience may be one of my key internal qualities, but having that loving and nurturing support system alongside me is absolutely my key external attribute. No matter who you are, we all need a helping hand from time to time, and there is no shame in reaching out for support. Having the ability to ask for such help is one of the most important tools in anyones kit.

Surround yourself with a strong and trusted network of friends, family, mentors, and even professional coaches or counsellors. These individuals can provide guidance, encouragement, a hug and a fresh perspective when you're facing challenges. Remember, you don't have to face adversity alone. Know your own strengths and weaknesses - and use them to your advantage

Understanding how you personally operate has many advantages and building resilience is one of them. Knowing what your strongest qualities are and how and when to use them will provide you with a solid foundation and confidence to tackle any situation - positive or uncomfortable. For example, I'm empathetic, intuitive and value connections and so I use these traits to back myself when I need, approach situations in a particular way and establish strong relationships with colleagues and clients in order to ensure we work better together.

Equally, getting acquainted with your weaknesses can be just as powerful. It can help you preempt moments or situations where you may become uncomfortable or anxious and thus aim to respond appropriately, making better decisions. It also fosters growth and development opportunities, improving confidence in yourself and resilience to difficult scenarios. And one of my favourite ones - knowing your weaknesses is a great leadership skill and can empower you to delegate tasks to others more suited to their strengths, in turn enhancing team efficiency, productivity and individual development.

It can be difficult to start this step, so I'd recommend taking a personality test (the 16 personalities test is great and was incredibly accurate for me) to get an initial idea to venture further into. Self-reflection is also a vital tool, and something you'll use throughout your personal growth and career journey.

Self-care

Additionally, it's crucial to take care of your physical and mental well-being. Engaging in self-care activities such as exercise, meditation, or hobbies can help reduce stress and improve your overall resilience by allowing you to recharge and face challenges with a clear and focused mind. For those who are prone to burnout particularly (like me, it's one of my weaknesses), understanding when burnout is near and taking preventative measures is so important, and self-care activities are a great tool for this. It resets your body and mind, allows for deep thought and powerful self-connection. Find what works for you and make it a non-negotiable in your routine!

Building resilience in adulthood is essential for overcoming challenges and thriving. By no cultivating a positive mindset, seeking support, understanding yourself, encouraging self-growth, taking care of yourself, embracing failure and taking every experience as a learning opportunity, you can develop the resilience needed to navigate the ups and downs that may come your way. Remember, it won't always be easy and your resilience may sometimes falter - and that's okay! Know that you are capable of overcoming any challenge, so stand tall, face the sun (wear sunscreen!), and embrace the journey with wonder and determination.