What Does It Mean to Be Emotionally Resilient?

Do you know who you truly are? Do you know what you think and feel? Are you aware of how your thoughts and emotions shape your experiences and relationships? 

These questions are the core of emotional resilience - the ability to understand and manage our emotions effectively.

Being able to understand who you are and what you think and feel is one of the most impactful and pivotal things we can do here on this earth. 

We often cut ourselves off from our emotions, and then we wonder why we feel so much discord in our lives. 

Why do your relationships feel tough? Why do your days feel overwhelming? Why are you feeling stuck? 

It's because of a lack of understanding of who you are, what you feel, and how to respond to those emotions.

The power of emotional resilience

Imagine if you didn’t have any emotions and only operated based on rational thought. It might seem appealing initially, but emotions serve a crucial purpose - they are signals from our brain conveying important messages about our experiences. 

Self-awareness is the foundation for emotional resilience and a skill that you can build over time. 

So many of us have been keeping our emotions in the dark, and sometimes, when we turn on the lights, it can seem overwhelming. 

But when we are willing to stay aware of our feelings and take time to process them, we dramatically improve how we feel in our everyday lives.

Emotional resilience goes beyond simply recognizing our thoughts and feelings; it involves understanding, processing, and responding to emotions in an intentional manner. 

It allows us to navigate through life’s ups and downs with grace and empathy, leading to more meaningful connections with others and more self-awareness.

Cultivating emotional resilience 

Becoming more emotionally resilient is not an overnight transformation. It’s a dynamic process that takes time and practice.

This process can feel daunting, especially if you are not used to examining your emotions, so it’s essential to approach this process with patience and self-compassion.

Here are a few strategies to help you get started:

1. Emotion Check-Ins: Set periodic reminders on your phone to check in with yourself throughout the day. Take a minute to identify and label the emotions you are experiencing. Gradually, you will build a vocabulary of emotions and recognize patterns in what you experience.
2. Emotion Cards: Using emotion cards or a feelings wheel is a great way to explore a wide range of emotions and expand your emotional vocabulary. You can even pick an emotion at random and try to generate it. This practice can help you expand and diversify the emotions you feel on a regular basis.
3. Communicate With Yourself: Engage in self-communication by journaling, recording voice notes, or using apps like Marco Polo to express your feelings and thoughts. This allows you to process your emotions and unravel complex feelings.
4. Communicate With Others: Engaging in open and honest conversations with others can be transformative!  Sometimes articulating your emotions to a trusted friend or family member can provide clarity and insight into what you are feeling.
5. No Judgment: Remember, emotional resilience is about understanding, not judgment. Acknowledge and embrace your emotions without criticizing or suppressing them. 

Embracing discomfort for growth

Awareness of your emotions may often feel uncomfortable. But when we are comfortable, that means we aren’t growing. 

Emotional intelligence empowers you to act intentionally based on your values rather than reacting impulsively to outside circumstances. It allows you to connect with others genuinely and have relationships filled with empathy and understanding. 

Embracing the discomfort will allow for massive growth.

Ready to be more emotionally resilient?

Emotional resilience is an invaluable skill that can transform your life and relationships. It starts with self-awareness and a willingness to embrace your feelings without judgment. 

As you delve into your emotions, you will discover newfound resilience and a deeper understanding of yourself, ultimately leading to a more fulfilling and successful life.

If you want more help understanding your emotions and how to process them in a way that will lead to more emotional resilience, you need the 4-Step C.A.L.M. Anxiety Method. 

Sign up for this FREE email course to learn:

• 2 essential truths you NEED to know about anxiety and other negative emotions
• Why thinking your way out of anxiety doesn’t work
• How to retrain your brain and body to calm the anxiety response
• An in-depth look at the 4 simple steps to walk through when confronted with anxiety, overwhelm, fear, or stress

CLICK HERE to get instant access to the free course!