Resiliency: Surfing Life Part 2
Resiliency was another concept manifested as I watched the surfers on the river. Resiliency is the ability to get up and try again, “for the joy set before us,” so to say. So often on our journeys we get hit hard, and tumble from our position in life. As the grin falls off our face and we get caught in the powerful current, we have to make a decision: do I try again? If we believe joy is possible we are likely to do so. If we have been hit too hard, or sucked in too much water we may straggle to the side and collapse for a time while we recover. We aren’t necessarily deciding to give up, we just need to recover our strength. But at other times we can be so devastated we cannot escape the dangerous current, and without the help of others we may not make it to a place where we can recover.
When we have choice (i.e. the strength to move to the edge on our own), some of what we may determine to do rests on what has occurred for us historically. If we have experienced joy, if we believe delight is possible, if we’ve ridden the current and grinned, we are likely to believe this is possible again. Life has built resiliency into us because we know joy is possible. We are also likely to do this if we believe we can learn and grow. It’s the mentality of, “I can’t stand up yet, but I’ve seen others so I know it’s possible, and I also know I’ve learned to do many things.” A few rare people seem to be built to constantly venture into the impossible and accomplish it, but for most of us it’s a belief in what’s possible that propels our resiliency.
If however, life has mainly beat us up, it’s helpful to know resiliency can be learned. All of us have knowledge of something in life we’ve accomplished and grown more skilled at over time. If you doubt this ask yourself if you could walk or even crawl as an infant. Working to apply this growth more broadly to areas where we desire to expand, propels us toward living life resiliently. We go from simply getting swept down the river and giving up, to quickly swimming to the eddy so we can try again.
Where do you find yourself in life? Do you believe joy is possible? If so you are likely to be someone who manifests good things for yourself AND who also allows others to experience joy vicariously… and start to believe. Joy is catchy! Resiliency can also be catchy. If we see others try and try again until they accomplish the outcome of something positive, we might just get off our couches, or crawl out of bed or the bottle (whatever this might be for you), and try again ourselves. Learning to balance and adjust to life is a necessary part of our journey, just like balance allows surfers to stay afloat. Flexibility and adaptability are keys to surfing life.
So. If you’ve been tossed by life and lost your balance are you ready to try again? The grin, the joy, the learning, the accomplishment is possible. The category of life where you desire growth doesn’t matter. It could be relational, emotional, spiritual, social, financial, transitional, etc… Learning, growth, effort, accomplishment, manifestation of something good and beautiful is deeply connected to our resiliency, which can thankfully be learned just like everything else. Do you want to manifest more resiliency in your life? Know that it’s possible!
You’re welcome to contact me if you’d like to learn more about resilience coaching.
