You may be hearing the word “resilience” a lot more on campus this year and that is because it is WSU’s theme. The word resiliency holds multiple meanings for different people and but having resilience is ultimately about being flexible, bouncing back from difficult situations and being able to adapt.
especially as college students. There are times when we have to overcome obstacles with school, friends, finances and more. For me, It’s important to build up resilience since I am graduating so soon and will need it in the future after graduating and finding a job.
Build Resilience One Minute at a Time
You might be asking yourself, how can I practice resiliency in my own life? Well, WSU psychologist Mick Lynch created a video series called “Being a Resilient Warrior: One Minute at a Time” to answer that very question.
The first video is a breakdown of what resilience is. Mick compares resiliency to a rubber band, the rubber band is able to stretch, bounce back and become stronger. A simple rubber band can be compared to us too and by watching these videos, we can learn how to bounce back and stay flexible in situations.
I watched another video this week called “Aim For the Bullseye!” to try out a specific tip for practicing resilience. This video explained how a target is good visual for focusing on the people in your life that will be there in a time of need.
As directed, I drew a target out for myself on a sheet of paper. I wrote out the names of the people in my life including friends, family, acquaintances and even people I don’t know very well. It was easy to identify the people in my close circle because these are the people I see every day.
When I drew my bullseye, I found that I had about eight people in my close circle that I have full support from and trust the most.
I was initially thinking that I should have more, and I worried that the fact that I wrote so few meant I didn’t have many friends. This is not the case at all though because even people in the second circle I still felt that I had a close relationship to. Having at least one solid person in your inner circle and few more in your second or third is enough. It’s case of quality over quantity when building a support system.
I also found myself feeling bad about putting some of my “less close friends” in the second circle because I didn’t want anyone to think I didn’t appreciate them as much, even if they would never see my bullseye.
Just because a friend is not as close to you, doesn’t mean they don’t have a huge impact on your life. For instance, I placed a certain friend in the second circle of my bullseye. Last year I called on that person to help when I needed advice and a friend just to listen while I talked.
This bullseye is a good reminder for me when I am feeling alone or need help, advice, or simply just a friend. I plan to keep this bullseye near my desk so I can look to it when I need it. Having this somewhere easily accessible is important, but it will take practice reminding myself that I have friends to count on and the resources to become more resilient.
Next week, we will take a look at the video “Let your Moral Compass be Your Guide” where Mick Lynch talks about morals and values and how they can guide you during hard times in your life.
In the meantime, you can learn more about resiliency and the University’s theme.
Try out some techniques for yourself! If you aren’t sure where to begin, you could get a little extra guidance from a professional counselor at WSU. To schedule a free, confidential counseling appointment, call 507.457.5330 or stop by the Integrated Wellness Complex 222.
