What can people do to build their own resilience?
I have a simple saying: Deal with the bad, turn to the good, take in the good. Take in the good and help it sink in. No matter how crazy it is around you or how bad it is, there are always things you can do inside your mind.
As a psychologist, I say: First, find your footing. In other words, in any kind of shaky situation, you want to slow down, listen to the experts, find out what’s really going on. Then, make a plan and work your plan. When you are dealing with massive uncertainty on a large scale, at least be certain about your plan for today.
Second, calm and center yourself. There’s a lot of research on who does well in emergencies. It is the people who are calm and centered who live. Carving out that 10 minutes a day to just sit there with a cup of tea and stare into space. Some people will meditate or pray, do yoga, go for a run or walk the dog. When you’re calming and centering yourself and you slow down and take in the good, you develop traits of calm and centeredness. Being able to calm your body is absolutely fundamental.
How can other people help build our own internal resilience?
Self-preoccupation creates a lot of anxiety and stress. Taking care of other people reduces stress hormones in your own body. It protects your heart and strengthens your immune system.
