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Resilience is critical to happiness and well-being. With constant bombardment of social media and negative and divisive news filtering into our lives, it’s important to develop strategies that protect our mental health.
Jessica Weiss, a motivational expert and author of “Happiness Works: The Science of Thriving at Work,” tells MSN that building resilience isn’t innate, it requires daily habits that train your brain to weather difficulty.
Here are some suggestions:
• Reframe stress as a challenge, not a threat. If you’re nervous about an upcoming presentation or meeting, pause and tell yourself, “I’m excited about this.” Research shows that shifting your physiological response can turn anxiety into excitement.
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• Make one decision daily with confidence. It doesn’t have to be a huge decision, says Weiss. Instead of second guessing yourself, make a firm micro-decision quickly and confidently to show your brain you are capable of action. It could be something as simple as sending an email without checking it over a dozen times.
• Prioritize relationships. According to the American Psychological Association, connecting with empathetic and understanding people can remind you that you’re not alone in the midst of difficulties. Focus on finding trustworthy and compassionate individuals who validate your feelings, which will support the skill of resilience.
• Take care of your body. Self-care may be a popular buzzword, but it’s also a legitimate practice for mental health and building resilience. That’s because stress is just as much physical as emotional. Promoting positive lifestyle factors like proper nutrition, ample sleep, hydration, and regular exercise can strengthen your body to adapt to stress and reduce the toll of emotions like anxiety or depression.
• Create a “done” list instead of a to-do list. Focusing on the things left undone creates a perpetual sense of failure, says Weiss. Flipping the focus to honor your accomplishments helps shift the brain into a state of resilience and accomplishment.
• Help others. Whether you volunteer with a local homeless shelter or simply support a friend in their own time of need, you garner a sense of purpose, foster self-worth, connect with other people, and tangibly help others, all of which can empower you to grow in resilience.
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