RESILIENCY is the ability to bounce back from adversity.
(Think about how a squeeze ball will go back to shape even after you do your best to squish it.)
Can resiliency be developed?
Yes, with practice, with a positive attitude, and with life experiences.
Student Learning Outcome:
Students will be able to identify the skills necessary to be successful when dealing with resiliency.
Activity 1
Step 1: List 20 things you enjoy and/or give you a sense of accomplishment. The things you list can come from ANY area of your life. Go to http://lessonsforliving.com/assessing.htm for more information and ideas.
Step 2: Review your list. These activities reflect how you sustain your physical, mental, spiritual and emotional health and energy. They help you to build self confidence, self esteem, and a positive self concept.
Choose one of the activities you listed and write about how that activity affects one or more of these areas.
Activity 2
Go to http://www.resiliency.com/htm/resiliencyquiz.htm and take the "resiliency quiz." Continue on to the "Personal Resiliency Builders." Be sure to read the 4 ways in which you can help yourself or someone else be more resilient.
Activity 3
Resiliency and positive thinking go hand in hand. Write about an experience you have had in which positive thinking helped you to deal with a potentially negative situation.
Activity 4
Step 1: Close your eyes for at a full minute and visualize paradise, whatever paradise looks like to you. Make sure you "look around" at your paradise-moving your eyes while you do this activity actually helps you to lower your stress. You can visualize paradise any time you need a quick boost to your resiliency and to lower your stress level.
Step 2: In addition to your hiking boots or a great book, there are some other "items" you'll need when you travel to paradise. Open the "Pack Your Bags-You're Off to Paradise (doc)" worksheet and complete your packing by filling out the worksheet.
Idea: Want to do something nice for yourself? Make a collage with the "Off to Paradise" worksheet and some pictures, photos, or words that represent paradise to you. Hang it in a place where you'll see it all the time to remind you of your own resiliency!
Final Activity:
Email all assignments from this online module to your TRiO advisor. This should include:
- List of 20 things you enjoy and/or give you a sense of accomplishment.
- Short Essay #1 - Choose one of the activities you listed and write about how that activity affects one or more of these areas.
- Write about an experience you have had in which positive thinking helped you to deal with a potentially negative situation.
- "Pack Your Bags-You're Off to Paradise (doc)" worksheet