My heart goes out to all those who have suffered any losses from the recent hurricanes, tornados, fires and earthquakes.

It has been very sad but also very inspiring to see the resiliency of the human spirit as people affected by these disasters literally pick up the pieces of their lives and start all over again.

Given the events of the past few weeks, I thought a blog about how to build resiliency would be very timely.  Below are ten tips to help strengthen your resiliency so you can better manage the stressors that come your way.  Also,  you can click here to watch a video of me doing Do-In, a form of self-massage you can practice daily to help improve your resiliency and vitality.

1. Seek support.  When you are going through a rough time don’t withdraw from people. Your closest friends, certain co-workers, family members, and counselors can help you weather any storm.  Studies show that the primary factor in resilience is having caring and supportive relationships within and outside the family.
2. Adopt self care practices.  Exercise, meditate, do yoga or some other form of relaxation on a regular basis. These activities help you relax after a stressful day and can help you handle stress better in the future. Click here to listen to my guided relaxation audios.
3. Be flexible.  Learn how to “go with the flow” as they say.  The more adaptable you are in a stressful situation the easier it will be to get through it.
4. See setbacks as temporary.  We all have a tendency to “awfulize” and believe that the worst possible scenario is the only scenario.  Try your best to move through times of crisis knowing that eventually you are going to come out OK on the other side.
5. Take action.  Don’t let your problems cripple you to the point of inertia, or inaction.  Take any action that moves you forward even if it is only a “baby step.”
6. Don’t sweat the small stuff.  Try not to make mountains out of mole hills.  When a stressor occurs try to keep it in perspective and ask yourself, “how important is this really?”
7. Eat a healthy diet.  Eating healthy food and boosting your intake of immune enhancing nutrients can help you significantly increase your energy reserves so you are better able to deal with life’s challenges. Reduce your dependence on stimulants like caffeine and sugar, rather than giving you energy they deplete energy over time and contribute to blood sugar imbalances.
8. Use a mantra. When faced with a stressor try to come up with a positive phrase such as “This too shall pass” or “Whatever happens I can handle it.”  When you reframe a stressor in this way you are more likely to have a positive outcome.
9. Cultivate an attitude of gratitude.  Before going to bed at night make a mental list of everything you are grateful for (or you can keep a gratitude journal and write it down).  Recognizing all that you have to be thankful for, even in the worst times of your life, fosters resilience.
10. Get a good nights sleep.  Avoid stimulating activities before bed.  Turn off your computer 1 hour before bedtime.  Create a bedtime ritual that is relaxing to you like taking a bath, listening to relaxing music, reading and keeping a gratitude journal.  Click here to read my blog post for more sleep tips.

Stress is a part of life.  Resilience is about facing stress head on and looking at stressful situations as opportunities for growth.  Learning how to be more resilient can help you protect yourself and your family from the potentially harmful effects of stressful events when they arise.

Developing resiliency is a journey. If you would like to explore this more in depth you can contact me for Stress Management Mastery Coaching sessions to help you learn coping skills to better weather any of life’s storms.