The Road to Resilience

In light of current events, rollback of civil rights protections, and mass layoffs at many organizations, it’s time to flex our muscles. This may seem like a conundrum— building resilience in the face of adversity. Life is throwing curveball after curveball, and our capacity to bounce back will be the foundation of our victory over the political forces at work. Cultivating resilience helps us to navigate adversity and face uncertainty with hope. We have to believe we are strong enough for the fight and that things will get better. 

Resilience is the capacity to adapt, grow, and recover in uncertain times. It is learning new tools and strategies that help you stand when things get tough. I often tell the people I mentor, the bridge to purpose is how you deal with adversity by way of resilience. It’s adopting the posture of leveraging obstacles as learning opportunities. This is by far the hardest thing in life to grasp, because hardships can take a toll on your physical, emotional, and financial health. But as my grandmother would always say — things will get better if you keep on living. That’s the goal — have full confidence that trouble won’t last forever. 

Adopting a posture of “better” is what keeps me going when all hell breaks loose. Whether you're in leadership or aspire to be, having an aura of “better” will get you through the toughest of days. It requires balance between confidence and humility, optimism and realism, and determination and adaptability. It definitely requires a village of folks who support you, your work, and your vision. Resilience is cultivated through intentional practice, focus, and mindset shifts. Here are some steps to strengthen resilience: 

1. Develop a network, a supportive village or squad. Mentorship and and communal engagement will help to block distractions that obscure your goals 

2. Incorporate mindfulness and daily reflections/affirmations—practices that will keep you grounded. 

3. Adopt an attitude of “better” and assess situations with positivity 

4. Embrace challenges. Ask yourself, “What’s the lesson I could learn from this situation?” You’re sure to help you go see the opportunities for innovative ideas and problem solving strategies 

In a nutshell, resilience is key for anyone who aspires to leadership. It inspires innovation, builds confidence, and leads you to reach your goals. It also leads to a greater sense of purpose .Resilience is akin to parenting yourself, with all the love and nurturing that represents. Practicing such self-care isn’t easy to do. But it has very rewarding benefits, both emotionally and physically. So when things get rough, acknowledge your inner resources and let them carry the day. 

Love y’all double time® 

Dr. Patrice McClellan, President & CEO, The Ronald Group, is a Belonging Strategist and Leadership Activation Expert with over 20 years experience helping leaders and organizations thrive. She specializes in cultivating resilience in leaders to ignite innovation, navigate crisis, and drive transformation.