No matter our age or life circumstances, we can all still build resilience as we face life’s ups and downs.

If you’re wondering how to start, here are a few basic steps to think about.

1. Practice optimism – surround yourselves with similar optimistic people ( like Widowed Friends!) and you’ll feel more optimistic.
2. Rewrite Your Story – focus on the opportunities you have in life and not on the things that have happened that you can’t change. It takes a bit of time to reframe your thoughts, but with practice you can learn to find that silver lining in the dark cloud
3. Don’t personalize setbacks – everyone has moments of misfortune or reversals – remember to focus on what you can do going forward in a positive way
4. Remember your own “comebacks” – we all have a tendency to focus on what we haven’t done well, but it helps to take some time to think about what we also have succeeded at in our lives.
5. Support others – this is the core principle of Widowed Friends! We get together to support each other and to provide strength and caring to help us all move forward positively with our lives.
6. Take a stress break – make sure that you are doing the things you enjoy, so your mind and body get a chance to recuperate from life’s stresses
7. Get out of your comfort zone – for many of us that might be attending a first Widowed Friends event, or planning an outing or a vacation or trying something new.  Each time you try something new, you build confidence in your abilities which helps build resilience.

Do you think you’ve re-built your resilience?  What tips can you share for people who are looking for ways to become stronger and happier? Share your tips in the comments section and we’ll post them.