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Some people respond to traumatic experiences in their lives - illness, death of a loved one, disability, loss of one's job - with incredible resiliency. They view the experience as a way to grow and develop, to find greater meaning and purpose in their lives. They see the trauma as a "turning point" or a "wake up call" and think of themselves as survivors, not victims. That's resiliency. Resilient folks spend little time wishing their lives would return to what used to be. They understand that the "used to be" is gone. They are able to create a new way of going on and being...a new "now."
The need for resiliency and meaning extends beyond those experiencing a crisis or a serious illness to the legions who live with everyday stress. How many of us work long hours and take more work home at night and on weekends? We drive home in heavy traffic, get take-out food for dinner, and talk on a cell phones while eating. Then we watch the news (more bad than good) and go to bed. We may ask ourselves "What was wonderful in that day?"
We may have closed down entire compartments of our lives. Life rolls along : predictable, safe and boring. We are often angry, feel unappreciated, and complain that we feel stuck but don't know what or how to change. We've forgotten how to have fun.
In our clinical programs, we help participants look at themselves through new eyes and see their medical condition as an opportunity to really make positive changes.
When people begin the journey of answering these questions, they experience a shift from a feeling of loss of control and despair to one of gratitude, hope, optimism, and joy. They begin to find new meaning and purpose in their lives, all of which have a positive impact on both their emotional and physical health. |
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