Resiliency is being able to adapt to whatever happens, as opposed to reacting to changes with anger, hopelessness or despair.
Coping with COVID-19 has tested our resiliency. Being good at resiliency does not mean it’s easy; the more difficult the challenge, the more difficult it is to be resilient. The resilient person doesn’t waste time complaining about the change they’re facing; they don’t ask “why me?” “why now?”; they don’t say “I can’t take anymore” or “I’m tired of this”. They realistically look at what has changed, and despite their feelings about it, they shift into thinking about what they can do to solve the problems, move through the challenge. They know the disappointment or fear they feel, but they don’t get stuck in the feelings, unable to face the work of the solutions. Times are very tough, much harder for some than for others. The degree of difficulty faced, and the amount of resources available, effects how well a person can cope. It’s rarely easy.
Dr. Jankovich has been working as a psychologist since 1974. She works with a range of areas, including relationships, depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, grief, trauma, and struggles with life transitions.
The photo included in this story is licensed under Flickr Creative Commons.
