Life can be tremendously stressful and unpredictable. The phrase “emotional resilience” describes a quality that influences people’s ability to respond to crises, as well as deal with the challenges of daily life on a more even keel. Emotionally resilient people can work through traumatic or difficult life events with the understanding that these issues do not define them. With that in mind, what makes someone emotionally resilient?

1. Ability to Set Clearly Defined Boundaries

Being able to establish healthy boundaries with those who surround you in all aspects of your life is essential. Among other things, the elements you can define with boundaries include your:

• Time and energy
• Cultural, spiritual or religious beliefs
• Belongings
• Thoughts and feelings

Contrary to what you might think, the purpose of having boundaries is not to put up obstacles between yourself and others. Instead, you should think of boundaries as tools that help you better connect to and understand the people you interact with, because they create a set of ground rules for managing relationships.

2. A Sense of Self-Awareness

Emotionally resilient people are highly in tune with their psychological and physical needs, and they know how to tell when it’s time to reach out for extra support. They understand how they react to stress and tension, and can reframe their thoughts as necessary when they realize they’re overreacting or being negative. 

3. Understanding How to Process Challenging Emotions

Recovering from a shocking, traumatizing or deeply saddening event isn’t something you can do all at once. Instead, you will need to work through these feelings one step at a time. Emotionally resilient people know stress, pain and grief are natural parts of life, and that they have valuable lessons to teach. They accept that healing takes time, and that you shouldn’t try to deny it if you’re feeling sad or angry.

Can You Develop Emotional Resilience?

If you discover you are lacking in one or more of these traits, the good news is that emotional resilience is a skill you can learn. Doing so can help you become a more empathetic and compassionate person, and will also become more aware of yourself and how you handle challenges. When a problem arises, recognize and own what is happening to you, rather than trying to sweep it under the rug. 

You can also hone your emotional resilience by practicing patience and mindfulness. Instead of trying to run away from a bad situation, be thankful for the opportunity to take something new away from it.   

Discover Your Emotional Resilience

If you are looking for ways to improve your mind-body-spirit connection, Serene Behavioral Health can benefit you with our four levels of care, tailored to your needs. Learn more about what we offer and how we can structure your treatment program in the way that benefits you most. 

Regardless of how much or how little support you need for your mental health, you can draw strength from our expertise and the modalities we offer. If you are interested in exploring our treatment practices and services, contact us today.