Bouncing Back: Resiliency After Change

Every person faces challenging changes from time to time. Many changes are welcomed and celebrated, but some are dreaded and painful. Some changes, especially the ones viewed negatively, can be shocking and abrupt (for example, the death of a loved one), whereas others can be tortuously slow (for example, experiencing the diagnosis and treatment of a chronic disease). Negative changes are a test of a person's resiliency. Resiliency is more than simply the ability to cope with change. Resiliency is the ability to "bounce back" after being "knocked down" by changes in everyday life.

People are not born with an unchangeable amount of resiliency. The thoughts, behaviors, and actions that determine how resilient a person is can be strengthened and nurtured. For most people, resiliency begins by recognizing and accepting that change is to be expected as part of everyday living. By recalling and reflecting on past stressful changes, people may be able to recognize their own strategies and approaches that were most successful and those that were not helpful. This process of self-discovery may help improve a person's resiliency when facing future changes. Learning that progress in bouncing back can be made in small steps helps people avoid the notion that tragedies and hardships must be overcome all at once. Resiliency can also be bolstered by maintaining existing relationships and establishing new ones that help ensure that someone will be there to listen and to offer support and assistance when changes need to be faced.