5 Factors that Promote Resilience

Recently, I gave a talk to an audience of parents and teachers on resilience, the ability to bounce back, to handle life’s daily challenges, and to overcome adversity. I discussed the five factors that are important to develop resilience: connection to others, communication, confidence, competence and commitment, and control. And I recommended the things that could be done to help children and teens develop resilience – things like taking risks (appropriate to their age, of course), making decisions, dealing with conflicts, doing their own homework, making mistakes and learning from them, finishing what they start, believing that they can influence the outcome of events, and other factors.

Shortly after my presentation, I read an incredibly moving article in the New York Times about an orphaned young man who lived in a garbage dump in Rawanda and is now a freshman at Harvard University. His inspiring story shows that resilience is what really makes a difference; with no family around him, he developed the confidence, commitment, and the other skills that embody resilience. Michael Wine, the author of the article about Mr. Uwayesu in the New York Times, called him an example of the “potential buried even in humanity’s most hopeless haunts.” Read my blog on Justus, Inspiration: Some Thoughts on Resilience, here.

5 Factors that Promote Resilience

1. CONNECTION

• Good relationships with friends and family
• Involvement in community, cultural, school, charitable or faith-based groups
• Internalizing a sense of connectedness

2. COMMUNICATION

• Ability to share, explain, explore, and understand
• Ability to reframe what has happened
• Development of insight and good judgment

3. CONFIDENCE

• Positive yet realistic view of yourself
• Accurate sense of your abilities
• Recognition of what you have learned after a problem is resolved
• Ability to visualize your goals and what you want
• Believing you can influence how things turn out

4. COMPETENCE AND COMMITMENT

• Ability to look at the big picture
• Ability to problem-solve
• Following through, not giving up
• Working toward your goals every day

5. CONTROL

• Managing strong feelings so they enhance relationships and productivity
• Developing coping skills, not just quick fixes
• Keeping things in perspective
• Understand the role that your thoughts play in how you feel

All material contained on this blog is for information purposes only. This information is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional psychological advice. Always consult a qualified professional prior to utilizing any of the information provided in this post.

If you feel that private therapy would be beneficial, please feel free to contact me to schedule an appointment.

About Dr. Alison Block

Alison P. Block, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist and the Director of the Health Psychology Center in Little Silver, NJ. Dr. Block works closely with other professionals including physicians, learning disabilities specialists, nutritionists and education professionals in order to provide patients with comprehensive care and meet their individual needs. Dr. Block is also the director of the psychosocial curriculum for the Department of Medicine at Monmouth Medical Center. www.dralisonblock.com