What is Resilience?

Resilience is the ability to adapt well in the face of adversity, trauma, or significant stress, such as family or relationship problems, health challenges, workplace difficulties, or financial pressures. It is often described as “bouncing back” from hardship, learning from those experiences, and facing new challenges with greater strength.

Resilience is not a rare trait. Most people demonstrate it in their everyday lives, often without realising it. Being resilient does not mean you do not experience hardship, sadness, or emotional pain. Rather, it means you have developed thoughts, behaviours, and actions that help you navigate and recover from life’s difficulties.

The Foundations of Resilience

A key factor in building resilience is having strong, supportive relationships within your whānau, family, friendship groups, and wider community. These connections offer encouragement, reassurance, and a stable network to lean on during tough times.

Other important factors include:

• The ability to view crises as manageable

• Acceptance that change is part of life

• Confidence in your problem-solving skills

• Maintaining hope and optimism for the future

• Taking care of your physical, mental, social, and spiritual wellbeing

Strategies to Build Resilience

Everyone develops resilience differently, but the following approaches can help individuals, families, groups, and communities strengthen it:

1. Connect with others
   Build and nurture relationships with whānau, friends, and colleagues. Join community groups, clubs, or volunteer organisations to expand your support network.

2. See challenging events as something you can manage
   You may not control the event, but you can control your response. Focus on the fact that challenges are temporary and that you will get through them.

3. Accept change as part of life
   Some goals may no longer be possible after a major change, but you can set new ones that fit your circumstances.

4. Set realistic goals
   Break long-term goals into smaller, achievable steps. Celebrate progress along the way.

5. Take action
   Address problems directly rather than avoiding them. Small, proactive steps make a big difference.

6. See opportunities in challenges
   Difficult times can help you discover new strengths, build skills, and deepen relationships.

7. Think positively about yourself
   Trust your abilities and your capacity to solve problems.

8. Keep things in perspective
   Avoid magnifying problems and consider them in a broader context.

9. Be optimistic
   Expect that good things can and will happen in your life.

10. Look after yourself
    Exercise, eat well, get enough rest, spend time with loved-ones, and make time for activities that restore your energy.

11. Get to know yourself
    Reflect on your experiences, values, and coping strategies. Journaling or meditation can help you understand what works best for you.

12. Expect setbacks and keep going
    Progress is not always smooth, but persistence builds strength.

Useful links:

Resilience

Coping with stress - InfoAboutKids

Youthsay - Resources for kaimahi working with rangatahi

Self-care and managing stress and building resilience | Mind