It’s Just a Speed Bump: The Importance of Resilience

Welcome back to the third blog of the 2023/2024 season!

We are entering the first round of midterms, so let us do a quick exercise that makes us feel empowered, in control, and confident that we will get through this hectic time!

Firstly, think of a superpower you have always wanted. Got it? Then, think of the outfit that would fit your super alter ego and the perfect name that completes it all.

Ready?

Now, imagine there is a distress call; someone's pet duck is stuck in a tree. You quickly put your flattering super suit on and rush out the door. However, as you turn the corner, you hit a road that is under construction. Certainly, your unwavering determination to get to the duck allows you to think quickly on your feet and adapt a new plan of route. As you go through the striking back alleys of your city, you try your best to conserve your energy while thinking of the best way to rescue the duck when, suddenly, bam!! You have come face-to-face with your worst enemy, which you must take on because it lies between you and the tree with the stuck duck... Speed bumps. Instantly and without hesitation, you embrace the ‘speed bump,’ confront it head-on, and leap over it with grace and power. Finally, you arrive at the massive tree; however, it is too windy, and the tree is swaying too harshly. As such, you ask the rescue team on the scene to support you as you climb up the tree, bringing the duck back to land.

In life, we are inevitably faced with many challenges and obstacles, which often seem unfair. However, we must build a strong mindset to keep going, finding a way to move forward without letting negative thoughts and emotions control us to achieve our goals, no matter what is thrown at us. Going back to the exercise above and analyzing it, when you took on the role as your super alter ego, you managed to adapt to the new challenges coming at you, communicate and find support when you needed it, control the situation when faced with unforeseen circumstances, and throughout all of it, maintain a positive attitude. Indeed, your superpower is resilience.

So, why did I make you go through that exercise above? According to most articles and videos on resilience, it is an essential attribute to success. Resilience is important because it allows you to continue to pursue your goals without letting adversities get in the way and affect you. Resilience allows you to bounce back and keep going, especially by using positivity to your advantage. Certainly, we must remember that the incidents we face throughout our life journey are merely speed bumps. At first, it may seem intimidating, especially the narrow and tall ones that toss you around; however, it is reasonable once you pass it. Simply, you brush it off and move on to what lies ahead.

Think of resilience as a state. Inevitably, a state is when you exist in a condition, stage, or mode defined by specific characteristics. So, when you are in a particular state, you adapt mental and physical mannerisms to that specific state. When you consume the idea of resilience being a state, it becomes your shield… your very own superpower. Furthermore, being in a state of resilience, whatever situation you are in, you can embrace it, seeing it as an opportunity for growth and moving on from it as if it were just a speed bump.

Undoubtedly, resilience is essential, but how do we implement it into our lives?

The first step to being resilient is accepting reality. I know, easier said than done. However, once you do it, life will flow much smoother. Next, learn how to sustain your energy and cope with pressure. Sustaining your energy and coping with pressure will make you a resilient leader because you can thrive in any environment by coping with change and utilizing the situation to your advantage, successfully guiding yourself and your team. The following step is to adopt a particular mindset, as two types are more resilient than the others. By adapting these mindsets, you can see any circumstance as an opportunity rather than a blockage.

The growth and learning orientation mindsets are the two more resilient versions. The growth mindset makes people want to advance themselves, whether it is their knowledge or skills. People with this mindset usually believe they can evolve and transform themselves for the better. In turn, individuals with a learning orientation mindset focus on inserting themselves into competitive environments, allowing them to challenge their ability and, undoubtedly, learn and grow within these settings. The two more resilient mindsets are successful because they perceive setbacks and mishaps as a learning curve. Subsequently, infusing yourself into specific environments and interactions that allow you to flourish and absorb the lessons you attain facilitates resilience.

On the other hand, two mindsets are considered less resilient, which I will briefly outline because it is good to understand what may be obstructing progress and transformation. Namely, there are fixed and performance mindsets. Fixed mindsets believe that what they are equipped with, from birth, are the abilities they possess, restricting them from growing. Likewise, individuals with performance mindsets tend to focus on their performance in a competitive scene, such as proving their worth, ability, and skills to others. Performance mindsets individuals usually want to present that they have competence and avoid showing any weaknesses. These mindsets are less resilient because negative situations or minor inconveniences, such as speed bumps, set them back as they worry they are not good enough. Consequently, with these setbacks, they need the desire to persist forward and put in effort to do so.

After all, resilience is essential as it is what drives you forward. It should be noted that resilient leaders have an open heart and can express their feelings, connecting with people because it is essential to have someone to talk to and support each other throughout the way. Also, do not take things to heart and have an open mind, as it will allow you to focus on what lies ahead - the goals and aspirations that you aim to achieve.

If you would like to know how well you are doing behind the wheel, please check out a qualified examiner or registry site to book your road test as soon as possible. Nevertheless, if you would like to know how well you are doing with metaphorical speed bumps, follow the Harvard Business Review link for an entertaining assessment of how resilient you are, and the Resiliency Test from PsychTests.