The icy arctic blast that blew in bringing snow to unusual places has not abated. While we delighted in the novelty and the beauty of a landscape transformed into a white wonderland, we also deferred to the limits and restrictions it placed upon us, prudently taking both comfort and safety into account.
So too, circumstances in our lives can change rapidly and bring about occurrences we aren’t necessarily expecting or particularly prepared for. It is often the sheer unfamiliarity and unpredictability that unsettles our equilibrium and sends us into a spin of indecision and anxiety. Because we can’t plan for every contingency we sometimes just have to wing it, reacting and adjusting as we go along. This is where it is helpful to have built up reserves of resourcefulness and resilience. Developing a healthy level of confidence in our own abilities, an outlook on life which embraces the rough along with the smooth, and an attitude of hopefulness can act as a buffer when life suddenly is not as we expect it to be.
Sometimes we have to take immediate action based on our instincts and our experience of similar situations. We do the best we can with what we’ve got, accepting that our best is good enough and trusting that everything will work out in the long run. At other times the most sensible response is not to react at all until we have taken a deep breath, made a clear assessment of the situation and its implications, and undertaken a considered appraisal of the likely outcome of our actions.
Judiciously accepting the constraints of some situations or our own limitations within them means we can become more comfortable setting boundaries or asking for help if we need it. Being ‘brave’ isn’t always the best course to take. We also need to take care of ourselves when faced with the unexpected, shepherding our energies and ensuring we get adequate food, water and sleep. Frantically running round trying to make everything all right again doesn’t always work. Sometimes it is better to just take some quiet time out and rest.
What are some of the ways you have found to build reserves of resourcefulness and resilience?
How have these helped you when faced with the unexpected?
