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Author: gandhi14 | Total views: 50 Comments: 0
Word Count: 675 Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 8:42 PM

How to be More Resilient: Focus and Take Action

Resilient people keep going even when the going is tough. They are resourceful. They know how to stay focused and how to maintain their energy levels. Even in the most difficult times, they are the ones who bounce back and get results.

How do they do it?

They have learned and they apply a set of behaviours that just about everyone can learn. Resilience is about behaviour, not character or personality. One set of behaviour is the ability to stay focused and take action on the things that will get results.

There are lots of things to think about in tough times! You think about your bank balance, and about whether you will be able to keep your job. You do not know whether you will be able to afford the kind of education you want for your children, or if you will be able to complete your own education. Maybe your relationship with your partner will suffer from the stress. You might lose your home. These are some of the big issues. There are many more, smaller ones as well; planning holidays, changing your car, pursuing a hobby. The list of things you can think and worry about is endless!

There are two kinds of worry. The destructive kind is when you worry about things that are outside of your control, that might happen, or might not. This worry keeps you awake at night, raises your stress level and saps your energy.

Constructive worry is the kind that drives you to action. When you focus on things you can fix and you waken at night, you can grab a pen, make a list and set your alarm for early so you can get started. Remember the old saying that necessity is the mother of invention! A certain amount of stress and pressure can push you into thinking more imaginatively, creatively and outside the boxes and limitations by which you feel surrounded.

To really make things happen you have to put thinking and doing together. It takes focus and action to get results.

Maybe you do little of either!

If you avoid thinking about the issues you are facing or what you could do about them, you are probably hiding your head in the sand, hoping that the trouble will blow away on its own. You operate at a low energy level, perhaps using movies, computer games, hobbies or books for escape. When you finally decide to confront reality, it could be too late.

If you think without doing you are a dreamer.

You have lots of plans and schemes but nothing much happens. Your plans may be in great detail and you convince yourself that this time, you will make it all happen. But you procrastinate and use the phrase Yes But, to avoid taking action.

Doing without thinking is a common response to crisis.

You feel that if you are doing something, it is better than doing nothing. Mostly, you are wasting energy. Sometimes, you are doing more harm than good. Spinning your wheels may give you a feeling of satisfaction and achievement in the short term, but it does not contribute much to sorting out real problems.

When you think and do, things happen!

Think about what you are able to do, and where you can make something happen. Put a plan together. Gather your resources. Seek support from others. Decide on a start time. Then do what you have to do to make it happen!

You will get results! When you hang in, persevering, adapting your plans as you go along, and refusing to give up or take No for an answer, you get even better results.

Focus and action can get you out of crisis. Used together they ensure you put your energy and resources where you can make a difference, get results, and bounce back.

About the Author

Maureen Collins trains people how to handle difficult conversations, on difficult topics, with difficult people in her consulting practice, Straight Talk. She has a B.Sc. degree in Psychology from Edinburgh University and over 25 years of consulting experience. She consults in communication in the workplace. Download free e-books and get free Straight Talk Tips. http://www.straight-talk.co.za

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