BUILDING RESILIENCE: THRIVING IN A VUCA WORLD

BY JOHN SPENCE

We live in a VUCA world. Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous.

Every day there are new difficulties to face. Economic turbulence, political upheaval, global instability, and a myriad of personal and professional issues. At times it can feel overwhelming. To move forward in trying times, we must accept that life does not get easier or more forgiving. We get stronger and more resilient.

Resilience is the ability to adapt, recover, and bounce back from adversity or challenges while maintaining or regaining mental, emotional, and physical well-being. If you sometimes struggle to overcome hardships and adversity, here are a few practical tools to help you be more resilient.

ARE YOU TELLING A STORY?

Some people are great at catastrophizing. A simple problem becomes seemingly insurmountable. They tell themselves that the situation is terrible, will get worse, will last a long time, will affect all their lives negatively, and is their fault.

This is a bad story to tell yourself. To overcome this distressful plot, simply ask yourself these questions. How bad is it, really? How long will it truly last? What parts of my life will this actually impact? Is this really my fault? In almost all cases, the answers put things into a much more manageable perspective. Also, if you’re going to tell yourself a story, why not tell yourself a good one?

Reframe Setbacks As An Opportunity For Growth

Think of a time that you failed at something, and it turned out to be a blessing. I failed college on the first try. It was humiliating. However, on the second try, I graduated in the top four in the United States in my major and went on to have a flourishing career. Had I not gotten kicked out of the first school, I would not be where I am today. That fortunate failure led to my eventual success. When has failure turned out to be your friend?

Focus On Events You Can Control

One of the most powerful skills you can acquire is the ability to discern what you can control and take massive action on that, then let go of everything you cannot control. The list of things you can control is finite and manageable.

• Your thoughts and beliefs

• Your attitude and outlook on life

• Your emotions and how you react to them

• Your actions and behaviors

• Your communication and language use

• Your habits and routines

• Your finances and budgeting

• Your personal and professional development

• Your relationships and social interactions

• Your environment and surroundings

• Your goals and aspirations

• Your time management and productivity

• Your spiritual or religious practices

Essentially, you can control your behavior and how you react to what happens to you. On the other hand, the list of things you cannot control is very long. At the top of it is other people. The ability to focus on what you can control and let go of what you cannot is a superpower.

We all face challenges in our lives. Problems arise. We are treated unfairly. We stumble and fail. Things do not go as planned. When these things happen to you, be strong. Remember that you have encountered difficulties before and have overcome them. With grit, determination, and resilience, you can handle whatever life might flow your way.

Reprinted with permission.