Covid-19 has proven that one cannot avoid black swan events. The best we can do is prepare for them. Mental resilience is critical to pick yourself up in such challenging times. And continue to grow.
We spoke to Life Coach Srikumar Rao on the practice of developing extreme emotional resilience and releasing oneself from disempowering thoughts. Here are the top takeaways from his session!
1. Give up the resistance
We cannot always control the events in our lives, but we can choose how we respond to them. Choose to accept things the way they are and give up the need to control. Our happiness is largely dependent on the attitude we bring into a situation.
2. Acceptance doesn’t mean inaction
Strive for your vision and your goals. You may or may not succeed – but neither outcome will have an impact on your emotional wellbeing when you are in the space of acceptance. When you strive knowing that the outcome is not fully under your control, you will embrace everything that is happening.
3. Invest in the process, not the outcome
When you embrace acceptance, you cultivate a detachment from your goals. Instead of obsessing over the outcome, you invest your energy into the actions you must take to achieve that outcome. Inadvertently, you will start enjoying the journey itself.
Watch the entire conversation below. Life Coach Dr. Srikumar Rao with Personal Branding Coach Dr. Amit Nagpal.
4. Relabel your challenges as opportunities
Suffering begins the instant we label an event as “good” or “bad”. When something “disastrous” happens, ask yourself instead “Can I imagine any scenario where this could turn out to be a good thing?” or “What is it that I can proactively do to make it a good thing?” Just asking these questions moves us from the realm of despair to the realm of possibility.
5.. Be kind, to yourself and others
According to a Native American parable, inside each of us, there is a dog – intelligent, loving, kind and trustworthy; and a wolf – malevolent, vicious and ready to kill. It is up to you who you choose to feed, in both yourself and in others.
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