There is a lot of talk about developing resilience for your mental health, but what does that really mean? It can be difficult to know where to start without having a strong grasp of both self-awareness and resilience in the context of your mental health.
So, in this blog we’re going to explore what resilience is, what self-awareness looks like and how it plays a crucial role in not only how resilient you are, but also in your overall mental health.
What does resilience mean in a mental health context?
The World Health Organisation describes someone with good mental health as a person who realises their own abilities, is able to manage the stresses of day-to-day life, work productively and contribute to their community.
But mental health can be harder to measure than physical health, because our mental health exists on a continuum. Being resilient is considered essential to have good mental health because it is all about flexibility.
When you are mentally resilient, it means you have the capacity to adapt when the circumstances in your life change or you experience adverse events.
According to the American Psychological Association, resilience encompasses both the process and the outcome of “successfully adapting to difficult or challenging life experiences”.
This flexibility in how you approach life’s challenges is what allows you to manage day-to-day stress and therefore to maintain your mental health.
The key message is that being resilient doesn’t mean you don’t experience stress, but that you are better able to navigate it because you can adapt your approach to suit different situations.
Why is self-awareness important for building resilience?
This is where self-awareness comes into the equation. It is very hard to navigate challenging situations when you cannot see them and your place in the scenario clearly.
Instead of focusing on what’s happening externally in your life that may be causing stress or difficulties, self-awareness is often about bringing that focus inwards.
Self-aware individuals are able to reflect on their emotions, thoughts and behaviours to help them identify patterns, emotional triggers and our own vulnerabilities. When we better understand ourselves, we are able to make better decisions.
There is also an aspect of self-awareness that enables us to understand how those around us may see us. This is why self-awareness is just as crucial for developing emotional intelligence as it is for developing resilience.
One of the main reasons why self-aware individuals are more resilient is that they are able to understand and notice when they are acting emotionally and pause. This pause is essential, because it gives them space to consider their other options.
Essentially, self-awareness allows you to step back from the challenge or difficulty you’re facing and evaluate it more clearly.
This helps you alleviate the sense of pressure you might be feeling and therefore enables you to think with greater clarity and without heightened emotions clouding your judgement.
Developing your self-awareness can also deliver a host of benefits in addition to improved resilience, including boosting your confidence and creativity, as well as helping you become a better communicator.
What can you do to improve your self-awareness?
There are several simple steps you can take to begin developing your self-awareness. These are mostly short practices that you can easily build into your day. However, if you would like personalised support, you may want to consider investing in online life coaching sessions.
Journaling
Journaling is regularly recommended to develop self-awareness because it encourages us to reflect on what is happening in our lives in a more detached way. One of the reasons it’s effective as a practice is because when you journal, you are carving out time to think.
It can also be a helpful way to process your thoughts and feelings about a situation without sharing them with someone else.
Journaling can also be a valuable way to help you reframe situations and in doing so see them from different perspectives that can help you cope with the challenges you’re facing.
Taking time out
In the modern world, it can be challenging to make space for ourselves, but it’s essential that we set aside dedicated time to be alone. One of the keys is to spend time without your devices – no phones, tablets or other screens in sight.
Technology can be valuable to a point, but we all need time away from it to fully recharge and reset. Avoiding the pull of scrolling on your phone in particular can help you to become more aware of your own feelings and behaviour.
Meditating
Meditating is often suggested as a practice for developing self-awareness because it encourages you to focus on the present without judgement. Being truly present in the moment and noticing what you see, hear, feel and experience is important.
Even if you are focusing on external stimuli, such as listening to the birds as you walk or feeling the sun on your face, being mindful often encourages the lens to turn inwards too.
This can help you explore how certain experiences make you feel, opening the door to greater self-awareness in other areas of your life.
Listening to feedback from others
Asking for feedback from those around you can feel uncomfortable, but it can highlight traits and behaviours that you may not be fully aware of. Always receive this kind of feedback from a position of gratitude for what it can help you learn.
Take the time to explore the feedback you receive and give yourself the space to consider whether it really holds true for you and, if so, what you can learn from what the other person has shared with you.
This method for helping develop your self-awareness can also lead to stronger connections with others, which is another factor that underpins mental health resilience. Healthy relationships with friends, family and colleagues can support us when life becomes more challenging.
By having people in your life who you trust to give you honest feedback, you are building your self-awareness muscle as well as becoming more resilient by virtue of the relationships you are cultivating.
