Resilience

The Good Stress: How Eustress Helps You Grow

Author By Jamie Wiebe, Contributor
Posted:
dad teaching daughter how to ride bike experiencing eustress or good stress

Americans are more stressed than ever — but if you’re a glass-half-full kind of person, that statistic might not be so terrifying. There are two types of stress: the awful, normal stress that leads to late-night hair-tearing sessions, and eustress, or good stress.

Good stress? It’s not as wild as you think. If you’re a scary movie fan, you know the feeling: The killer is right around the corner, the last protagonist alive is hiding behind the tree, and your heart is pounding. Yes, you’re stressed. You’re also excited, intrigued, and eager to keep watching.

You’ll experience bouts of eustress throughout your life, and it’s easy to mistake them for regular distress. Perhaps you’re about to start your first year at college. Sure, you’re petrified; You’ll be living alone in a new place where you know no one.

Eustress pushes you to new heights. It encourages you to dive into new career experiences, finish that tough workout, and take on that major renovation project.

Here’s what you need to know about stress’s less-scary side. Continue reading The Good Stress: How Eustress Helps You Grow

What Does it Mean to “Get Better?”

Author By Melissa Stanger, Contributor
Posted:
Smiling face painted onto tree

For six years I struggled with an eating disorder before making the decision to pursue treatment. After that it still took another year and a half before I considered myself to be in recovery. I didn’t wake up one day and realize that I no longer had an eating disorder anymore; it was a slow abatement of the features of the disorder, which plagued me for so many years, as a result of a combination of nutrition counseling, support groups, psychiatric medication, therapy, and resilience.

Because recovery in mental health is an ongoing process, it can be difficult to recognize what it actually looks like. Sometimes recovery happens so gradually that we’re not even aware that our minds and bodies — because our bodies can also suffer when we are struggling with a mental-health issue — are in the process of healing. That can make it difficult to be able to answer the question: “how will I know when I’m actually better?” Continue reading What Does it Mean to “Get Better?”

10 Quotes About Resilience For When Life Gets Rough

Author By Wendy Wisner, Contributor
Posted:
Fallen t-rex

As difficult as it is to accept, we are all going to be faced with hard times — moments where “life happens,” little is under our control, and we feel as though we might not be able to make it through. Some say that the key to surviving times like this is a little thing called resilience. And sometimes all it takes to get kick started is perusing some inspiring quotes about resilience.

But what is resilience, really? And how do you go about cultivating it, especially when it feels like the rug is being pulled right out from under you?

Continue reading 10 Quotes About Resilience For When Life Gets Rough

7 Secrets of Highly Resilient People

Author By Jamie Wiebe, Contributor
Posted:
Woman on rocks standing proud

Unfortunate situations are often called setbacks for a good reason: they set you back from your carefully planned life trajectory. For many of us, losing a pet, failing on a work project, or experiencing a harsh rejection can feel like the end of the world.

For some lucky people, these problems don’t seem permanent. Sure, they might feel sad, and yes, even a little disappointment. But they’re resilient: able to bounce back quickly, even from the most serious setbacks. This ability isn’t magic — it’s resiliency, and you can experience it too. Cultivate this life-changing trait by practicing these seven simple habits.

Continue reading 7 Secrets of Highly Resilient People

How to be Resilient: The Art of the Bounceback

Author By Ashley Laderer, Contributor
Posted:
Two women with arms up in front of sunset

At some point in your life, something bad is bound to happen to you. This isn’t pessimism, this is realism. Take a second to think about all the less than ideal things that can possibly happen in life. You might get laid off. You might experience a natural disaster. You might fall very ill. You’re more than likely to experience a break up, or have someone around you die.

Life is a series of ups and downs, and this is a fact we can’t change. What we can change, though, is how we react to the negative situations which arise, and perhaps even more importantly, how we bounce back. Let’s talk about resilience.

Continue reading How to be Resilient: The Art of the Bounceback

How to Stop Dwelling on Your Mistakes

Author By Joseph Rauch, Staff Writer at Talkspace
Posted:
business woman nervous during meeting interview

Mistakes can haunt us. Long after the dust has settled, we replay the incident over and over, ruminating on what we could have done differently, analyzing each detail as a reflection of our shortcomings. This pattern of thought is not only counterproductive, it’s bad for our mental health. Excessive self-criticism can contribute to feelings of depression and anxiety.

The good news is there are many methods of moving on and forgiving ourselves. It is difficult to let go of the past, but not impossible. Continue reading How to Stop Dwelling on Your Mistakes