A few readers were concerned about my well-being after I wrote about my health challenges recently. I am happy to report that I am well and energised, ready for the rest of the year.
It’s never easy to admit when I am not doing well. But, by sharing my reality—and my attempts to improve—I hope to help others.
Being human means facing challenges. It’s also human, and often our instinct, to escape or avoid difficulties. Yet, it is in learning how to face those challenges and in maintaining or restoring psychological well-being despite hardship that we find resilience—the ability to bounce back from adversity, trauma, or significant stress.
The good news is that resilience is a skill we can all develop. While many people have natural capacities to bounce back, having a resilience toolkit makes the process more intentional and effective. You first need to understand your stress responses and be vigilant for when those first signs appear. That’s when you can effectively deploy your toolkit.
My toolkit includes a medical checkup or two, which is how I discovered that I had high blood pressure. Blood tests also revealed critically low vitamins and hormones responsible for mood regulation. It’s remarkable how our outlook on life can be affected by our physiological state. The ‘low’ feeling that comes and goes with a bad head cold is just one example which we can all relate to.
Another tool in my toolkit is quality time with close friends. A long heart-to-heart with a good friend can go a long way.
And then there is nature. A few walks by the sea in the sunshine instantly improve my sense of wellbeing. The gloomy weather during the Cape winter is a challenge!
As much as time with friends helps, I also need to return to the rituals that centre me. As a writer, it’s not surprising that journalling works for me. Sorting through my thoughts and emotions by pouring them onto paper provides clarity, or at the very least, relief from carrying it all in my head.
Everyone is different - maybe you need strenuous exercise or a boxing class. Or perhaps when facing a particular challenge, you need more help - journalling, for example, is unlikely to solve mental health illness. For that, therapy or medication may be required. The key is to develop your toolkit—one that you can adapt to the challenges you face.
Resilience is not only important for coping better. It is crucial for financial well-being, too. The way you view the world impacts your financial decisions – your ability to make and commit to decisions, as well as assess risk, is all critical for achieving the positive outcomes of a financial plan.
When we’re not doing well, it’s harder to assess risk clearly or make thoughtful choices. A steady, resilient mindset helps us stay anchored, financially and otherwise. Because in the end, it’s not really about money. It’s about getting the best out of life – even when it throws curveballs at you.
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Kind regards,
Sunél