The definition of resilient is “being able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions.” As an example, babies are generally resilient in their health and wellbeing. They can quickly heal and recover from infections and the common cold.

Stress is constantly confronting our wellbeing in positive and negative ways and it’s your resilience and ability to recover quickly from the stress that determines your quality of life.

For instance, when our schedule changes due to the time of season, like school starting in the fall when sports, activities and homework all become priorities in our life again, it’s our ability to withstand the stress of extra demands that determines if our quality of life suffers or prospers due to our adaptation to it.

Adapting to stress is being resilient. Being resilient supports a balance in our wellbeing.

Wellbeing is defined as a “state of complete physical, mental, and social wellbeing, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” -World Health Organization

Being complete in our physical, mental and social wellbeing requires our ability to adapt to stress. You can’t escape stress, so quickly recovering or responding to it is in our best interest.

So, how can we adapt to stress? One way to be more resilient is by becoming better: better as in a more excellent quality of life physically, mentally and socially.

Having a better quality of life physically, mentally and socially allows you to adapt to stress more effectively which can create more resilience.

To illustrate, physical exercise can influence how much we produce a chemical called brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). BDNF is a protein in the neurological system that promotes the ability for neurons to grow, mature and encourage overall maintenance of the neurological system. In short, BDNF allows your neurological system to handle more stress. So when you exercise more often, the more you are able to adapt to life’s demands which can make you more resilient.

Actions to Being More Resilient:

1. Improve your physical quality of life through exercise, hobbies or even walking!

2. Improve your mental quality of life through reading, audios programs and seminars!

3. Improve your social quality of life by spending time with people that encourage and support you!

3.5 Be resilient with your action steps towards improving your quality of life. If it took years to lower your wellbeing, it may take years to get you back to where you want to be.