In 2022, my wellbeing podcasts will be exploring the subject of resilience
I’ve heard it many times and I’ve thought it myself in the past. When imagining a difficult situation for yourself or seeing someone else being really challenged, it’s that refrain:
I couldn’t possibly cope with that.
I couldn’t possibly manage that.
They must be really strong.
This comes from a place of fear, a perceived sense of weakness. I don’t know why we talk ourselves down like this, but we do. It’s silly because it’s blatantly not true. The reality is, bad things can happen to anyone at any time. They are not meted out to “strong people” specifically. When faced with tough times, we find a way through because we must. There is no other option.
I discovered this myself when my youngest daughter died when she was 12 years old. She had been unwell since birth, but losing her was something I simply didn’t believe I could survive emotionally. But I was wrong. Instead, the tragedy precipitated an inward journey that is still ongoing after 14 years.
And what have I discovered in the depths of my Being? It’s simple, and the good news is, it’s something we all share: an inner bottomless well of resilience. What does this mean?
The definition of resilience (Oxford English Dictionary) is:
the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties, toughness; the ability of a substance or object to spring back into shape.
In other words, it’s how we bounce back. Now, when it comes to the really hard knocks, it may not happen right away. It may take years. But that source of strength is still there.
The problem for some is that there may be some things that block the path to the well. Fear, self-doubt, anger, sadness. But once we have navigated through these obstacles, once we have let the negative thoughts and feelings go, the fog lifts and we can see it there. We can then help ourselves to our well whenever we need it.
And the ultimate prize for our efforts? We discover we bounce back stronger than before – our “shape” is that much more robust. You find that peace and calm flows through, and out of, your Being. What joy! There is no need to worry about what might come around the corner, because it will never be something you can’t manage.
So, bring on the new year, I say, it will be what it will be. We are resilient-ready.
Namaste
My MatChat with Mina Wellbeing Podcast will be reflecting the theme of resilience for 2022 – check out weekly inspiring stories here.
To find out more about my self help book Not for the last time, click here.