Simply put, Resilience is our ability to bounce back after unexpected challenges. But, why is it easier for some of us to tap into it, than it is for others ? According to Dr. David Viscott, this difference is often due to the internalized feelings of being supported learned during our upbringing years. 
One thing all Psychology researchers agree on, is that the more resilient a person, the faster they bounce back from traumatic and difficult experiences. Resilience also makes working with difficult people, or living under challenging circumstances more manageable.
Resilience is important because it keeps us on track until we reach our goals, it allows us to deal with difficult situations, and it helps us to grow by encouraging us to look at the positives and to manage stress.
As a good therapist I must emphasize that healthy levels of resilience are not about trying to carry on regardless of how you feel or ignoring that which is painful or hurtful. Healthy resilience is about understanding why we feel the way we do, and the ability to develop strategies to help us deal with situations more effectively.
We may not be as resilient as we want to be, but we can always build our resilience muscles. If you are curious to see just how resilient you are at this moment in your life, I’m attaching a link to a quiz to measure your current resilience levels. Remember, if your scores are not what you wished you had, you can always improve and build your resilience.
If you’d like to work on your resilience muscle, I’m happy to see you at my Sandy Hill, Ottawa office. I would also like to remind you, that my services are now covered under most extended and health insurance plans.