How to become bulletproof
SHAKING THE TREE #89
I’ve never been shot at and frankly, I’d like to keep it that way.
But over the years, I’ve taken my fair share of incoming quips, bullshit, and crap and to be honest with you, some of it has hurt. I suspect the same may be true for you.
Let’s be honest for a moment, shall we?
At some point or other, life is going to punch you in the face and sadly, you may not see it coming.
Some of those punches are glancing blows, while others are going to leave us reeling.
The fantasy of becoming bulletproof—the feeling of being impervious to real live bullets is of course, nonsense. But bullet resistance? That’s quite another thing.
By resistant I’m talking about being resilient, I’m talking about being able to take one hit after another and to find the courage and the strength to get your ass up again.
Resilience—the ability to bounce back from adversity—offers a far more realistic and empowering path than thinking you can take any hit, anywhere, anytime.
By cultivating resilience, you don't become immune to life's challenges; instead, you develop the strength to weather those challenges and to emerge stronger, more powerful, smarter, and better equipped to find opportunities for growth within them.
Resilience isn't a magic shield that deflects adversity. It's a complex process that requires us to acknowledge pain, analyze setbacks, and adapt our approach.
When faced with a challenge, the initial reaction might be discouragement.
This is where resilience steps in.
Resilience allows us to take stock of what happened and to replay the movie of the events and to then reframe the situation.
Instead of seeing a setback as a roadblock, resilience helps us see any given situation as a detour and as a chance to learn and to adjust.
This isn’t lying, it’s a positive retelling of the story that fosters a better sense of control that in turn helps empower us as we move forward.
Developing resilience requires practice and it takes building a strong foundation.
The key element here is an ability on your part to forgive yourself for your mistakes, and a willingness to be self-compassionate.
When we fall, instead of beating ourselves up, we need to get into the mindset of acknowledging our struggles and extending kindness towards ourselves, just as we would to a friend facing difficulty.
This self-compassion allows us to learn from our mistakes without succumbing to self destructive things like fear, self-pity, and self-doubt.
Building a strong support network is another pillar of resilience. Surrounding ourselves with positive, encouraging individuals provides a safety net.
When faced with challenges, having people to confide in and who believe in us strengthens our resolve and helps us navigate difficult roads.
Resilience also thrives on a growth mindset. Instead of believing our abilities are fixed, we embrace the idea that we can learn and improve.
This mindset allows us to see setbacks as opportunities to develop new skills and overcome weaknesses. We become more adaptable, able to navigate unforeseen circumstances and emerge stronger.
Resilience doesn't guarantee a perfect life free of pain.
It does, however, equip us with the tools to navigate life's inevitable storms.
By acknowledging our pain, by learning from our mistakes, and by leaning on our support systems, we forge an inner strength that allows us to weather life's challenges.
We may not become bulletproof as such, but through resilience, we become stronger people, we become more flexible, more adaptable, and ultimately, we become unbreakable.
Resilience isn't just about recovering; it's a superpower that fuels growth by helping us.
Create hidden strengths: Challenges unearth talents we never knew we had, making us more resourceful.
Develop a grit muscle: Each obstacle overcome strengthens our resolve, allowing us to tackle bigger goals.
Light a creative spark: Adversity compels us to think outside the box, fostering a problem-solving mindset.
Confidence boost: Conquering challenges builds self-belief, empowering us to pursue dreams.
Embrace our setbacks: Resilience teaches us to learn from mistakes, fostering emotional intelligence and stronger relationships.
By implementing these tips, you can build on and strengthen your resilience, enabling you to navigate life's challenges and setbacks with greater confidence and determination.
As always, thanks for reading.
Feel free to follow me on Twitter and LinkedIn
If you’ve like what you’ve seen here, why not share this post with a friend?
P.S. Next time on Shaking the Tree … Why you need to lift your peers