Resilience

A Component of the RCCS’ Reducing Harm Conversation

The following post is from our Recovery-Centered Clinical System (RCCS) Tidbit of the Month series. Each month, the RCCS Steering Committee creates practices to support our recovery culture within our programs and among staff. Click here to learn more about the RCCS.

Resilience is about the ability to maintain a stable equilibrium — to “bounce back” and return to wellness after a challenging event. It is a powerful tool in recovery, strengthening with life’s twists and turns and bringing us to the present moment. Even if you are still feeling sadness, pain, or hurt from an event — you are resilient and stronger because of it.

Strengthening resilience takes time. We all adapt to our unique experiences differently — but there are building blocks for managing pain that can come from loss or hardship. Below are tips for managing past hurt and pain, inspired by Bruce Anderson of Community Activators.

Express yourself. There’s no guarantee that you’ll be able to communicate how you feel to the person who hurt you; and if you can, there’s no guarantee they’ll respond how you want them to. Say what you need to say anyway by writing in your journal, letting whatever words wash onto the page that come up.
Try to stay in the present. Fight the urge to relive the pain. You can’t go back and find happiness there, you can only experience the now.
Don’t let the pain become your identity. You can have a sad story in your past without building your present around it.
Reconnect with who you were before the pain. If you want to feel peaceful and happy, start by identifying what that looks like.
Focus on things that bring you joy today. Connect with other people who share your joy to avoid becoming isolated.
Stop telling the same story. In all reality, this just keeps you stuck right where you are. Instead, try to “re-story” the experience and make meaning of what happened. Re-storying will help you discover the strength(s) you have as a result of getting through your past hurts.

Practice:

Alone or with a partner, use a notepad or journal to explore the following prompts.

Recall a situation or two in your past that was hurtful or challenging.
For each situation, write one word that will help you recall that situation.
For each situation you identified, name a specific strength you developed to get through that event. This strength could be a talent, belief, or commitment you made to yourself.
With your partner, share these strength(s) you identified (not the experience) and how you use that strength today.