Resilience is the byproduct of overcoming adversity. It usually grows from the unwanted challenges life hurls at us. As we learn to duck, fight back, or dance with those challenges, we become stronger — and a little more prepared for the next emotional torrent.
I have a love-hate relationship with yoga, but I recognize its benefits — not just for the body, but for the mind. When you’re trying to fold yourself in half or master “crow pose,” teeth clenched, praying not to face-plant, you’re essentially practicing serenity in the face of imminent death.
Maintaining composure — on or off the mat — isn’t easy. You can train your muscles to grow stronger, but emotional resilience has no quick fix. Those coping skills are hard-earned, usually through trial, error, and a respectable amount of tears. Learning how to deal with difficult bosses or entitled, annoying people is its own kind of workout.
Wouldn’t it be great if there were a gym for emotional strength training? A place to flex our mental muscles and build emotional endurance.
For me, my emotional strength training came in many forms:
- Realizing halfway to work that I was covered in condiments courtesy of my highly spirited children — and pretending the ketchup and mustard on my white shirt were avant-garde fashion choices.
- Opening the fridge and saying, “Not today, pie. Not today.”
- Kicking a ball for the dog while ducking flying stuffed animals and scrambling eggs, chanting: “Om-let shanti, om.”
We can either laugh or cry.
I do a lot of both.