Growing Resilience: The Power of Relationships
Growing more resilient, especially during times of great stress, is critical. Here’s how relationship building can help.
A month ago, I surveyed my level of resilience at work and home. Although I was pleased with my progress, I found that I wasn’t fostering the types of relationships needed to support me in building my resilience. As an entrepreneur, I periodically chat with coaching colleagues about business. However, our conversations revolve around work and are never about building those important human-to-human connections that we all need. My spare time consisted of hobbies that I typically did alone. Sometimes I joined a virtual class. Yet, interactions were limited. Jon Donne, a 17th century English poet, wrote “no man is an island,” but I was ignoring these wise words. Generally, the work conversations I was having did not lead to the type of authentic connections that are needed to build strong relationships, and these relationships are critical to building resilience.
Relationships provide several resilience benefits. They help us become more attuned to our energy state, provide empathy, and generate solutions. Have you ever been stressed and mysteriously felt more at ease after conversing with others? I recently formed a resilience partnership with some coaching colleagues. I shared with them about the current tension I encounter with a family member. Sharing my experience relaxed my body, increased my energy level, validated my feelings, and provided ideas I can implement to enhance this sometimes challenging relationship.
Relationships can support our purpose and shift our perspective. My purpose is to help executives, leaders, and other professionals focus inward to act with calm. Regular interactions with coaching colleagues keep me energized and focused on my purpose. A recent session with my own coach helped me to discover a subconscious belief I had about relationships. This was, “work and tasks first, friends later”. Each day, I usually felt tired after work and postponed enriching conversations. Now, my perspective is “space for relationships”. I have been deliberately scheduling time in the early afternoon to converse with friends and colleagues. Our conversations have helped me have a greater sense of humor and meaning about life’s circumstances. Our interactions have also supported me with marketing my coaching services.
Here are some tips you can implement to strengthen your resilience through relationships.
Determine areas in life where you want to build resilience.
Consider individuals and groups that are helping or may help you increase resilience.
Plan how you will build or strengthen relationships with individuals and groups.
Share your plan and seek feedback from others.
Find one or more accountability partners.
Refine, execute, and monitor your plan.
Relationships are often our most underutilized resilience resource. Resilience is cultivated through strong relationships. Resilience doesn’t have to just be an individual pursuit- inviting others along for the journey helps to ensure your accountability and success.
If you are looking for more help in building your resilience, consider joining my FREE upcoming resilience workshop on October 14th. Learn more and get registered here.