{"id":5259,"date":"2020-12-03T18:59:00","date_gmt":"2020-12-03T18:59:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.talogy.com\/?p=5259"},"modified":"2025-09-17T09:32:55","modified_gmt":"2025-09-17T09:32:55","slug":"how-to-help-others-or-yourself-build-resilience-after-adversity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/talogy.com\/en\/blog\/how-to-help-others-or-yourself-build-resilience-after-adversity\/","title":{"rendered":"How to help others (or yourself) develop resilience"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Between\u00a0April\u00a0and July this year, I wrote four blog posts on the four stages of resilience in relation to the psychological impact of Covid-19. In these articles,\u00a0I outlined how most people will move through each of these stages and can eventually look forward to recovering and even thriving following adversity.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The recent good news on vaccination may have enhanced the mood of many, in that there is now a light at the end of the tunnel, and we will eventually bounce back from this. However, there are those who may be\u00a0left with emotional scars\u00a0from\u00a0the cumulative effects of stress, and who could benefit from additional support to help build resilience at work<\/a> and bounce back. Let’s review the stages of resilience that I outlined in my blog posts earlier this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Thrive Stages of Resilience:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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  1. Survive:<\/strong> how we initially respond to adversity <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Adapt:<\/strong> how we adjust to change and adversity <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Recover:<\/strong> how we bounce back from setback and adversity <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Thrive:<\/strong> how we grow and become more resilient following adversity <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    \"talogy<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Most\u00a0of us\u00a0are past the Survive stage and have learned\u00a0to cope and adapt to\u00a0our\u00a0new\u00a0Covid-19\u00a0world.\u00a0It\u00a0may be\u00a0too soon to\u00a0assume\u00a0that\u00a0people\u00a0have recovered to the same levels of well-being and happiness they had prior to the restrictions, let alone\u00a0to\u00a0suggest that they are thriving.\u00a0The continued long-term effects of adverse circumstances may\u00a0mean that many people\u00a0could be feeling stuck\u00a0at the Adapt stage.\u00a0This is not a good place to remain for long periods\u00a0of time, as discovered by Martin Seligman, the father of positive psychology. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In his research,\u00a0he discovered that there are broadly three types of responses\u00a0to long-term adversity. About a third of people will recover to the\u00a0level\u00a0they were\u00a0at\u00a0prior to the setback, a third\u00a0of people\u00a0will\u00a0actually thrive\u00a0and grow stronger\u00a0following prolonged negative events, but\u00a0another third of\u00a0people\u00a0will not recover easily. They may\u00a0become resigned to their circumstances, feel helpless, and\u00a0give up\u00a0trying to recover.\u00a0For these individuals,\u00a0there\u00a0may be\u00a0longer-term concerns for their well-being and mental health.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    As I mentioned in my earlier blog posts, people are often surprisingly resilient in dealing with significant negative life events,\u00a0but\u00a0what we find more difficult to cope with\u00a0are\u00a0repeated setbacks and unrelenting small,\u00a0but cumulative,\u00a0negative experiences. This has been a feature of the Covid-19\u00a0crisis with restrictions being lifted and then re-imposed as the unpredictable “r” number dictates. Many of these minor stressors are not only the observable negative events but also the absence of positive events; being deprived of the usual activities that help us to cope with our daily\u00a0challenges\u00a0and\u00a0that\u00a0make life enjoyable (socialization,\u00a0group events, family contact, holidays, job security, etc.).\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    One of the main reasons that minor stressors are so debilitating and stop our recovery is because they are cumulative. It takes several hours to deplete the\u00a0effects of the stress hormone\u00a0cortisol from our body each time we have a stress event. If we experience stressors regularly during a typical\u00a0day,\u00a0they mount up.\u00a0This can lead to a continued state of heightened arousal that eventually\u00a0lead\u00a0to exhaustion and burnout. This is our body’s normal and adaptive coping response\u00a0to prolonged adversity; to conserve energy, stop fighting, and “freeze.”\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    There are,\u00a0of course, ways out of this state, many of which were suggested in my previous blog posts. Most people will move through the four stages of resilience in a\u00a0positive\u00a0and healthy manner, but for those who are struggling to move forward, it is important that we recognize this and give\u00a0them\u00a0appropriate support. If you have concern for\u00a0the\u00a0well-being\u00a0of others,\u00a0talk to them. Ask them\u00a0how\u00a0they are\u00a0feeling,\u00a0what the last\u00a0six\u00a0months have been like for them, and\u00a0how have the restrictions impacted them.\u00a0Having\u00a0someone\u00a0listen and empathize is a vital step in helping others. Below are some questions you could ask in relation to the four stages of resilience.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Explore whether\u00a0the individual has\u00a0particular\u00a0difficulty\u00a0with one of these\u00a0four stages.\u00a0If so,\u00a0refer to the previous blogs to identify ways to support them.\u00a0Discuss which of these\u00a0four stages is a\u00a0relative\u00a0strength for them.\u00a0Use this to give them encouragement,\u00a0focus on what they can do,\u00a0and\u00a0how they may have overcome adversity in the past. Remember that we are all different\u00a0with\u00a0different\u00a0strengths and needs. One of the greatest resources we have for overcoming adversity is each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure>
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    Changing success criteria<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    What will be important and why?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    The world of work is constantly evolving: from the digital disruption of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the seismic impact of the recent pandemic, to a long overdue focus on building diverse and inclusive organizations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    To deal with this continuous disruption and change, your workforce will need to be able to cope, adapt, and perform in different ways to be effective, and your hiring strategies need to align. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In this report, you\u2019ll learn: \u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n