March 28, 2020

Build Resilience
You might be skilled, talented, educated, and brilliant. But, if you’re not resilient, persistent, and gritty, you’ll never make the most of those other attributes.
Think about the five most successful people you know. On the average, they’re probably not that talented. However, they know how to get things done and persist.
Resilience and grit might be the missing ingredients in your quest for success.
Try these techniques to build resilience and grit:
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Stay in contact with others.
When times are tough, its natural to crawl into a hole and be by yourself. This is a mistake. You’re more capable with a support system. Give up the idea that strong people take on the world by themselves. You’re stronger when you have help and support. Maintain your relationships. Especially during social distancing.
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Have high hopes.
It’s easier to stand strong when you expect things to improve. Consider every bad time in your life. Haven’t things gotten better every single time? When you know better times are ahead, grit and resilience are easier to demonstrate. Focus on a positive outcome.
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Know that the most successful people are those with the most resilience.
It might be easy to be wealthy and successful but becoming wealthy and successful is anything but. The most successful people were willing to take on challenges that the average person would avoid like the plague.
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Take excellent care of yourself.
No matter what is going on in your life, you still need food, rest, love, exercise, and fun. Take good care of yourself and youll be in a better position to weather challenges. Most people ignore their needs during difficult times, but this is a huge error. Self-care is not selfish.
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Be active, not passive.
Its easier to last when you’re doing something to make progress. Rather than passively waiting for things to get better, take steps to improve the situation. If there is something constructive you can do, do it.
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Give yourself mental breaks.
No matter how resilient you may be, take regular breaks to recharge your batteries. What is your favorite way to take a mental break? You could watch a movie, read a book, sing, play an instrument, or go play a virtual game with a friend. Do whatever works for you.
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Remind yourself of all the adversity you’ve overcome since childhood.
No one’s life is smooth sailing 100% of the time. You’ve already overcome many obstacles. Remind yourself of your past successes during challenging times. You made it then. You’ll have the fortitude and motivation to continue.
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Live a life that revolves around your interests.
If you have a job you hate, it’s hard to have a lot of grit and resilience. It’s much easier to have perseverance while doing something you love. Find a career and hobbies that you love. The need for grit is much lower! (Click here 👉🏾 for 10 Tips to Successfully Changing Careers.)
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Hang around with resilient people.
You become more like the people you spend the most time with. Choose your friends wisely. You’ll become a stronger person if you hang out with strong people. Find some people you want to be more like. With social distancing, we must be much more creative. For example, apartment tenants in Italy go to the balcony and sing. There are lots of groups on Facebook that you can join.
What could you do with your life if you were the most resilient and gritty person you knew?
You’d be U-N-S-T-O-P-P-A-B-L-E!
Most people spend their time trying to improve their skills. It might be more productive to learn how to apply your skills regardless of the situation. Build resilience and grit into your life and enjoy greater success.
ALWAYS RISING ABOVE!
xoxox Dr. Twanna
Curated Reads: Essential Books to Add to Your Personal Library
- Soothe Your Nerves: The Black Woman’s Guide to Understanding and Overcoming Anxiety, Panic, and Fear by Dr. Angela Neal-Barnett
- Melaninated Magic: 180 Affirmations to Nurture Your Soul and Unleash Your Black Girl Joy by Twanna Carter, PhD
- I’m Not Yelling: A Black Woman’s Guide to Navigating the Workplace (Successful Black Business Women), Elizabeth Leiba
- Stop Overthinking: 23 Techniques to Relieve Stress, Stop Negative Spirals, Declutter Your Mind, and Focus on the Present (The Path to Calm) by Nick Trenton
- Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert B. Cialdini
- How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
- High-Functioning Anxiety: A 5-Step Guide to Calming the Inner Panic and Thriving by Dr. Lalitaa Suglani
- Dare to Lead by Brene Brown
- The Memo, by Minda Harts
- Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones, by James Clear
- Worthy: How to Believe You Are Enough and Transform Your Life, by Jamie Kern Lima
- The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women: And Men: Why Capable People Suffer from Impostor Syndrome and How to Thrive in Spite of It – Valerie Young, EdD
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