Jim Stovall Discusses the Importance of Resilience

RL12-04-15I believe one of the most important characteristics that any person can have is that of resilience. Resilience is that quality that allows us to be knocked down and get up again, and again, and again. Being knocked down is not an interruption in our life but is simply a part of life. Often, the act of getting up and going on makes us stronger and allows us to climb farther and faster toward success. The next time you get knocked down personally or professionally, remember to react, reflect, and recommit.

Some people would tell you to avoid negative thoughts or bitter reactions to a setback. This is not natural, normal, or even possible. We will always react to adversity. I think it is imperative that we both control and limit this reaction. Give yourself permission for an hour or even a day to react with anger, grief, or bitterness; but then put an end to it and go to the next phase which is reflection.

When we reflect on our setbacks or adversity, we can consider what we did to cause the situation, what we can do in the future to avoid the situation, and what other people have done to overcome and triumph after similar setbacks. This reflecting phase gets us out of the immediate reaction and allows us to take control and create a learning experience which will be an asset for our success in the future.

After we have controlled our reaction and learned from reflection, we must recommit to our goals and objectives. This process of recommitting is what separates winners from losers. The winners in life get back on the path to their original goal or sometimes even a loftier goal. Often as we reflect on the setback and see how others have handled a similar situation, we realize that there is more potential than we had originally thought, and the possibilities are greater than we had considered.

When we can react, reflect, and recommit, we begin to see setbacks as opportunities. Often when we succeed, we look back from the perspective of the mountaintop and realize that the setbacks we suffered were the fertilizer for greater growth and bigger success.

As you go through your day today, never retreat. Simply react, reflect, and recommit.

Today’s the day!

Jim Stovall is the president of Narrative Television Network, as well as a published author of many books including The Ultimate Gift.  He is also a columnist and motivational speaker.  He may be reached at 5840 South Memorial Drive, Suite 312, Tulsa, OK  74145-9082; by email at Jim@JimStovall.com; on Twitter at www.twitter.com/stovallauthor; or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jimstovallauthor.

 

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