In a recent article, Dr. Lawrence Cheng, co-founder of Connect Health Centre for Integrative and Functional Medicine, defines resilience as “a process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, threats, and stressors.”
The ability to respond in this way is something we are all able to nurture and develop, he explains.
The key is to practise and grow this skill.
People who are resilient don’t automatically equate stress with something bad, as some stress can help develop resilience. Distress, on the other hand, “is what causes a chronic unregulated flight or fright (sympathetic) nervous system state than can lead to negative health impacts,” notes Dr. Cheng. What’s important, is how you look at the stress. “We have no control over most external events in our lives, but we definitely have much more control than we may think over the perception of these stressful events”.
A mind that is emotionally resilient – one that he defines as “flexible, adaptive, compassionate and integrated” – is important, but so is a resilient body. To help support physical resilience, Dr. Cheng suggests eating nutrient-rich, whole foods, getting at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep regularly and exercising regularly. In order to develop and maintain “a balanced and resilient nervous system,” you might try working on your awareness, practising yoga, or breath work.
Aside from the work you do to develop individual resiliency, it’s equally important to understand that we are all connected to each other and the planet, and that your connection to community can support resiliency. “Our resilience as an individual is inter-dependent of our social, community, and ecological networks,” he explains. “Resilience comes from deep inside us and from the support around us.”
Ultimately, Dr. Cheng says, through this process we will be rewarded with a rich life full of meaning, compassion, and health if we take the time to nurture both our resiliency as well as the resiliency of others and the planet.
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