Why is emotional resilience important?

As you can imagine, building emotional resilience enhances emotional and physical wellbeing. When we feel in control, it’s much easier to navigate tricky situations, from losing a family member to arguing with a colleague. We’re no longer stuck in a perpetual state of misery and inaction. Instead, we can move on with our lives and eventually find joy again.

Socially, people with good emotional resilience tend to have better relationships. Not only do others gravitate towards them, but they often communicate better about their needs. On top of this, they’re less likely to start unnecessary arguments because they aren’t held prisoner by their feelings and reactions.

Finally, building emotional resilience makes life easier, and with that ease comes more headspace to explore your potential. When you’re not fighting an uphill battle or sinking into a deep depression, you can explore fulfilling hobbies, pursue your dream career or improve your physical fitness.

5 top tips for building emotional resilience

1. Focus on stress management

Stress management supercharges emotional resilience. After all, it’s impossible to feel centred and balanced when your cortisol levels are off the chart! Plus, managing the physical response to stress is often quicker and has a knock-on effect – when the body’s relaxed, the mind follows.

There’s a treasure chest of ways to manage stress, including exercise and Nordic walking. Alongside releasing mood-boosting endorphins, moving your body literally changes your brain chemistry. Over time, consistent exercise remodels the mind’s reward system, leading to higher dopamine levels and more dopamine receptors.

Alternatively, swap your running shoes for a luxurious spa experience. Massage is one of the best alternative medicines for stress, thanks to its restorative powers. We especially love hot stone massage – the heat promotes total relaxation in mind, body and spirit.

2. Feel the fear and do it anyway

In the words of critically acclaimed author Susan Jeffers, “feel the fear and do it anyway”. Regularly stepping outside your comfort zone is a fantastic way to build emotional resilience. The more you confront difficult emotions, the easier they become to handle.

We’re not suggesting swimming with sharks or jumping out of a plane (unless you’re feeling particularly brave), but small daily challenges. If you’re nervous about meeting new people, join the local book or running club. Terrified of failure? Start that new side hustle and self-promote anyway. While it sounds simple, exposure is the key to overcoming fear.

3. Build a strong support network

Even the toughest cookies need a little support sometimes. Emotionally resilient people know when to ask for help from friends, family or trained professionals. When it feels like we don’t have the energy to face another day, those closest to us often pull us through!

Alongside talking to your doctor, visit our friendly clinic for tailored treatments. Our wellness, lifestyle and resilience coaching specialists will share several valuable tools to surf life’s ups and downs.

4. Practise gratitude

We know it’s easier said than done, but practising gratitude gives us perspective. It’s a powerful antidote when small things don’t go our way but have the potential to ruin our day. Keeping a journal is one of the best ways to build gratitude – and yes, it’s a skill like any other!

In one study, psychologists asked participants to write a few weekly sentences on different topics. The first group expressed gratitude about things that had happened, and the second wrote about things that irritated them. The third group noted events that affected them positively and negatively. After ten weeks, the gratitude group felt more optimistic and better about their lives than the control groups.

5. Nurture self-awareness

We’ve left the hardest until last – self-awareness. This is the ability to see your thoughts, reactions and behaviour objectively, from an outside perspective. Instead of getting caught up in negative emotions, you can rationalise them and realise their fundamental impermanence.

What’s more, it also means accepting our flaws but not languishing in them. For example, feeling jealous about your partner’s ex-partner is okay, as long as you appreciate that the feeling most likely comes from a lack of confidence. Sometimes, self-awareness hurts, but it’s crucial to emotional resilience!

We can help you with resilience coaching

Although some people have an innate emotional resilience, most need to nourish it over time. Follow the above tips to build mental strength and stamina, speak to your healthcare provider and visit our wellness clinic for personalised support.

If you have any questions, contact our team at Homefield Grange. Call 01536 712 219 or email enquiries@homefieldgrange.co.uk, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.