How to build resilience to adversity …

Over the past few days I shared a couple posts on the topic of adversity (here and here) and noted specifically that some trouble in life is unavoidable …

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world,” John 16:33.

If it’s a sure thing that we’re going to face some troubles, then it’s important we build our resilience to adversity so that we’re well prepared to take on those trying challenges. Following are some key ways you can build resiliency to adversity:

Make a robust Christian faith your top priority.
Scripture tells us all things (that includes this world and your life) were made by and for Jesus Christ, who reigns supreme over all creation (Col. 1:15-16), and that He has overcome the world (John 16:33). There’s nothing in your life you cannot face, work through, or overcome with Jesus. The apostle Paul shared this about the adversity he had experienced:

“I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength,” Philippians 4:12-13.

In fact, the adversity Paul faced was so severe he thought he wouldn’t survive it. How did he overcome? By trusting God:

“We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again,” 2 Corinthians 1:8-10.

Jesus taught that our faith in, and obedience to Him is THE foundation for a resilient life:

“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash,” Matthew 7:24-27.

If you make your Christian faith your priority, you’ll discover it will provide you with:

– The essential foundation needed for living (Matthew 7:24-27).
– An identity (child of God/disciple of Jesus) so you can know who (and whose) you are when the world tries to confuse you about that.
– THE source of truth (John 14:6).
– THE source of power for living (2 Timothy 1:7).
– An anchor of hope (Hebrews 6:18-19).

Embrace a lifestyle of change.
As much as some people dislike change, only Jesus remains the same forever (Hebrews 13:8), everything else is in an ongoing state of change. A key stumbling block experienced in times of adversity is our pre-existing resistance to change; but if you have already embraced a lifestyle of change, you’re better equipped to respond more quickly and positively to change that adversity may try to force.

Be proactive, as well as decisive about taking action. Ignoring the signs of pending adversity until it’s too late sets you up to be the victim of adversity rather than a victor over it. The same is true about procrastinating. Being proactive, and being decisive in making decisions and taking action are ways you can go on the offensive toward the challenges you’ll face in life.

Expand your cognitive flexibility.
Cognitive flexibility is the ability to adapt cognitive processing strategies and behaviors to face new and unexpected conditions in the environment. Each of us can learn to expand our cognitive flexibility to be better equipped to face adverse situations. Shannon Whitney, writing for Student Cafe, explains further:

Cognitive flexibility is the ability to revise your plans in the face of obstacles, setbacks, new information, or mistakes. Essentially, it is your ability to adapt when a situation changes. Cognitive flexibility is strengthened when your brain has more neural pathways and connections. Neural pathways are like roads that connect two different areas of the brain. The more neural pathways created, the more roads available to make connections, which increases your ability to process information and the speed at which you can make decisions.

Being cognitively flexible increases your likelihood of success, too. This ability to quickly adapt to new situations increases one’s brain function and resilience to stress. Cognitively flexible people tend to have increased fluency and comprehension while reading and they have an expanded sense of awareness. Being cognitively flexible allows you to see different points of view with empathy and understanding, which is a particularly important skill in today’s diverse society! In general, people who possess this skill go further in life.

So how can you expand this skill of being cognitively flexible? Whitney identifies some specific steps:

– Change up your daily routine. Routines are important, especially for those of you who need consistency to get things done. However, making a simple change to your routine (work in a different place, try diffierent workout routines, etc.) will actually build and strengthen neural pathways in your brain, which in turn improves your cognitive flexibility.
– Look for new experiences. Every time you have a new experience or learn something previously unknown to you, your brain develops more connections and gets stronger. Similar to experimenting with breaking your routine, try learning or doing something new.
– Meet new people.
– Don’t always take the easy way.
– Transfer your learning. Find ways to apply your current knowledge to different situations.
– Exercise and play games.

Develop a habit of thinking rationally.
Most of us have a well developed habit of thinking irrationally, often without knowing it. Having such a habit deeply embedded in your life at a time when adversity strikes doesn’t bode well for being mentally tough through the new troubles! A skilled, competent clinical therapist trained in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy can help you identify any patterns of irrational thinking in your life and teach you how to dehabituate from irrational thinking patterns and rehabituate to more rational thinking patterns.

Don’t hug the edges.
Some people just want to be “rebels,” people who stay at the edges of faith, discipline, and rational thinking in an attempt to live life on their own terms. Then when adversity strikes, they are so far removed from the center of a solid faith, sound decision-making, and rational thinking that it’s a broader, deeper struggle to get to where they should have already been. These people may still push through to overcome adversity, but by hugging the edges you can expect more hurts and scars than necessary.

Have a reliable support system.
It isn’t God’s desire for any of us to journey through life alone. He designed for us to have a support system of biological family, church family, and friends to go through the ups AND downs of life. Adversity is easier to face and defeat with the support of others who sincerely love and care about you. However, adversity also quickly reveals who really does love you enough to stick with you through tough times. Sadly, adversity may scare many into abandoning you, which is why you need to be persistent in building a support system of people who will be loyal to you through life’s troubles and trials as well as the good times.

Jesus said in this world you will have trouble. Are you ready for it? Do you currently have developed in your life the resiliency you’ll need to face the adversity to come?

Scotty