Nurture Resilience

Stress, as we all are experiencing, is not one size fits all. Understanding the levels of the mind (i.e. Ayurveda’s model of the mind: Chitta, Buddhi, Manas, Ahamkara), observing how we engage in the world, and how we digest our own life experiences can be informative tools in cultivating a personal journey towards resiliency. Not only do each one of us have differences in resources, differences in physiology, as well as differences in the meanings associated with circumstances, but each one of us has the unique ability to nurture individualized resilience.

Resilience can be understood as the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats or significant sources of stress. It involves intentional and conscious attunement to behaviors, thoughts, actions, and lifestyle. Resilience is not a trait that either you were born with or you were not. Resilience is a skill and or trait that can be learned and developed by all. The journey to resilience entails our ability to control our body, breath, senses, and mind. 

Thus, in this adverse, unsettled, and stress-ridden time, here are a few simple ways we can continue to nurture resiliency. 

Prioritize Self-Care. 

When we prioritize self-care practices like asana, pranayama, movement, and meditation we are nurturing self-regulation and self-attunement. Through regulation and attunement, we have the ability to foster greater adaptability. For example, if I were to wake up every morning and not have a morning routine, I may have a lot of decisions to make. This would then permit increased vulnerability to the days/mornings stressors. Over time this lack of supportive consistency will create dysregulation. Whereas, if I were to have a specific routine each morning/day, these habitual actions will support my regulation. There will be less room for rajas (movement) or tamas (negativity) in the mind. The action of creating regular patterns in our lives creates a container for adaptability. With intentional daily practices, we inspire moving the mind towards sattva (clarity). Further, understanding the Ayurvedic clock (circadian rhythms and how we can align our elemental selves with the rhythms of nature) as well as establishing dinacharya (daily routine) around these oscillating rhythms is the first and foremost sustainable way to enrich our own ability to foster greater resiliency. 

Simple Tips: Wake between 5-6 AM (Sattvic time of day); Go to bed prior to 10 PM (prior to entering into the Pitta time of night); Eat lunch as the largest meal (between 12-1 PM); engage in pranayama and asana practices daily (can further intend for those practices to align with the time of day, season, and or doshic qualities). Lastly, additional anchor points to consider for regulation are “wake and sleep hygiene” (aka. dinacharya). Creating a daily routine is like giving yourself a giant supportive hug. These rituals become wrap-around, self-care practices assisting in the nourishment and sustainability of the mind, body, and spirit. To learn more about dinacharya & self-care practices specific to you, please check out my Ayurvedic Lifestyle Consult. It is time to enliven your individual resiliency through intentional self-care.

Choose Living Awake.

Through the rajas (movement) of our daily lives, it can sometimes be challenging to move towards sattva (clarity). This is why it is important for our thoughts, words, and actions to align and become more harmonious with resilient living. With the intention of living a life of resilience, we need to empower proper tejas (discernment). Being able to choose positive from negative, right from wrong, conscious from the unconscious is imperative. We must choose, and continuously choose to live awake. When we choose to live awake we empower some of the critical abilities associated with resilience. For example, emotional regulation, the ability to keep calm under pressure and express emotions in a way that helps the situation. Impulse control, the ability to stop and choose whether to act on the desire to take action and the ability to delay gratification and follow through on goals and plans. Causal analysis, the ability to analyze problems and accurately decide what the cause/s is/are. Empathy, the ability to understand the feelings and needs of another person. Realistic optimism, the ability to keep a positive outlook without denying reality. Self-efficacy, the belief that one has the ability to solve problems, handle stress, and persevere. And last but not least, reaching out, the ability to accept and honor new opportunities and reach out to others. Perhaps the first step to living more awake is to center ourselves, reduce our stress, and believe in our own ability to take charge and influence the outcome. We must know and trust that we are in and have the control. Next, challenge. View mistakes as opportunities for growth. Take a more mindful approach and detach from judgment, frustration, critical thinking, obsession, aggression, etc. Just as implied in Yoga Sutra 1.12, we must give ourselves permission to let go of any habit or tendency that impedes us from reaching our goal/outcome. After all- life is simply a practice in itself, let’s commit to awakening that practice. Lastly, make a commitment. Commit to actively engaging in activities that give meaning to your life. Through intentional use of control, challenge perspective and dedicated commitment, we can choose to live awake!

Simple tips: Create and maintain balance and proper functioning of tejas (discernment). Practice mindfulness and present moment awareness. Practice pratyahara, control of the senses. Perhaps do a seasonal cleanse or detox, limit your intake of sensory stimulation (turn off the t.v, phone, and computer). Make the commitment to spend quiet time in nature. Practice silence. “Silent Sundays” can be a wonderful way to nourish the cognitive sense of hearing and the active instrument of speaking. We can become conditioned to let-go of the noise and attune to inner awakening and consciousness. Again, any simple practice that will nurture non-attachment, stimulate the power of tejas (proper discernment), and nourish the senses are powerful tools in fostering resilience. 

Honor Social Support.

This is the WE in Wellness. When we face adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats or significant stress, it is ok and healthy to seek social or community support. This does not mean you are less resilient. Community helps to nourish resiliency. To summarize even what the American Psychological Association wrote in a recent resilience report, “Relationships that create love and trust, offer encouragement, mentorship, and reassurance, help to bolster an individual's resilience.” This is perhaps inherently why even the National Wellness Institute’s Seven Dimensions of Wellness contains a social dimension of wellbeing. 

Simple tip: Honor social wellness by building and maintaining positive relationships that add value to your life. Seek community not only in times of hardship but also in times of joy! Set healthy boundaries, accept and honor support, and make a commitment to stay connected. 

To stay connected and in community during this time of social distancing, join me for virtual yoga classes. Check my social media outlets for weekly schedules or email me for details.

To learn more about nurturing resilience, plan ahead and join me in August for an insightful weekend to Awaken Your Resilient Self!