Keys to Resilience

There are several components or factors that have been identified as critical with regard to an individual’s response to adversity and to assisting in creating resilience in our lives.

However, there appears to be no consensus from authors and educators regarding the precise “components” or factors involved in developing Resilience. But most experts agree that a Resilient lifestyle should include at least most of the following components:

Courage combined with acknowledging and addressing Fear
An effective Mindset which consists of the thoughts and beliefs we allow to take hold, and then hold on to, in our minds.
Our Feelings and Emotions
Grit
Commitment to Purpose and Goals
Will Power, Discipline, and Delayed Gratification
A strong support system – which could include family, friends and other caring individuals both personal and professional.
Physical Condition
Spiritual Strength
Humor and HOPE !

These “components” or factors are often inter-related and the specific topics listed above are subjects that we will come back to often in the future. In one form or another, these inter-related factors can be found in what we refer to as “Keys to Resilience”.

It is our belief that in order to experience growth in developing resilience in our lives, we need to focus on the following four key areas:

Mental Toughness –

Emotional Resilience

Overcoming Physical Challenges

Spiritual Strength.

In future postings, we will explore these keys further.

Developing Resilience

FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS

Listings of Emotions

Throughout the centuries, beginning with Aristotle (384-322 BC), many individuals have attempted to identify and categorize human emotions. Categorization of emotions by these “emotion theorists” generally begins with a listing of “basic” emotions. The theorist will often then go on to include additional emotions in subcategories of the basic emotions.

In their excellent second edition of “The Cognitive Structure of Emotions”, Andrew Ortony, Gerald Clove, and Allan Collins have recapped proposed listings of basic emotions from several “emotion theorists” ….

From: Ortony, Andrew, Gerald Clove, and Allan Collins 2nd Edition (2022). The Cognitive Structure of Emotions. Cambridge University Press. Cambridge CB2 8BS, United Kingdom. Kindle edition, p. 78.

Since there is little agreement even regarding basic human emotions, we have included links to some of the more popular listings:

Aristotle’s Listing – (Found in Book 2 of Aristotle’s “Rhetoric”)

Aristotle identified the following emotions in book 2 of the Rhetoric: Anger, Friendship, Fear, Shame, Kindness, Pity, Indignation, Envy, Love

Robert Plutchik’s Wheel of Emotions

In 1980, Robert Plutchik proposed a classification of general emotional responses which included eight primary emotions: anger, fear, sadness, disgust, surprise, anticipation, trust, and joy. These primary emotions interact with each other and with other secondary emotions in intensity.

Plutchik initially created a wheel of emotions to highlight his theory. He then further refined the wheel to illustrate the interrelationships between the emotions and intensity of the emotional responses. (See image below.) As an example, the primary emotion of anger can vary in intensity if it turns into rage (darker color of red) or if it turns into simply annoyance (lighter color of red). Anger also interacts with disgust. For a further explanation of the theory, click on the link below.

Robert Plutchik’s Theory of Emotion – Envision your Evolution

Individual Emotions

There is a wealth of information available regarding virtually every basic emotion and most subcategories of feelings and emotions. For example, as noted in a recent blog, with regard to the emotions of depression and anxiety, the following articles are helpful in understanding the emotions and actions which a person may consider taking if the emotion leads to a harmful addiction.

Boca Recovery Center – https://bocarecoverycenter.com/addiction/depression

Drugwatch – https://www.drugwatch.com/mental-health/depression

REHABSPOT – www.rehabspot.com/alcohol/alcoholism-treatment/

The Addiction Center – www.addictioncenter.com/addiction/generalized-anxiety-disorder-addiction/

DEALING WITH ADDICTIONS

Additional Resources

https://www.healthyplace.com/addictions

Types of Addictions: Addiction Types | Psychology Today

Recovery: Chapter 5 Recovery: The Many Paths to Wellness, The Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health https://addiction.surgeongeneral.gov/sites/default/files/chapter-5-recovery.pdf

DEALING WITH ALCOHOLISM

In dealing with the specific addiction of alcoholism, one of the most effective ways has been to utilize the methodology and procedures prescribed by Alcoholics Anonymous, an International mutual aid fellowship whose members follow the following 12-Step approach to recovery:

Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.. Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions (p. 5). Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.. Kindle Edition.

Step 1: We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.

Step 2: Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

Step 3: Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.

Step 4: Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

Step 5: Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

Step 6: Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

Step 7: Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.

Step 8: Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.

Step 9 : Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
Step 10: Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
Step 11: Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
Step 12: Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

From: Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.. Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions (pages 5- 8). Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.. Kindle Edition.

Web site: http://www.aa.org/alcoholics-anonymous

Another important organization is Al-Anon … an International mutual aid organization for people who have been impacted by another person’s alcoholism. Al-Anon is a “worldwide fellowship that offers a program of recovery for the families and friends of alcoholics, whether or not the alcoholic recognizes the existence of a drinking problem or seeks help.”

Website: al-anon.org (http://al-anon.org)