Resilience and Thriving in the face of change and adversity Bill Hefferman May 23, 2017
Who do we have here today?
Resilience topics for today What it is and why it matters What neuroscience has to say about it How to develop it in ourselves and others
Resilience is the ability to adapt to, recover from, and grow through adversity, change, and uncertainty. The ability of something to return to its original shape after it has been pulled, stretched, pressed, bent, etc. Thriving is achieving outstanding growth and flourishing despite or because of circumstances or conditions.
Why we should all care about resilience A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for. John A. Shedd
Our resilience role models Think about someone you know whom you consider to be a resilience role model. What are some of their resilient attributes and behaviors?
Above the line Resilience Behaviors Language Attitudes Other characteristics Non-resilience Behaviors Language Attitudes Other characteristics Below the line
Challenge Threat Connection Disengagement Growth + Learning Giving up * These three factors are drawn from Kelly McGonigal s The Upside of Stress
Resilience topics for today What it is and why it matters What neuroscience has to say about it How to develop it in ourselves and others
Neuroplasticity Neurons that fire together wire together Conditioning States become traits Train your mind... and change your brain
See Attention and Perception Think-Feel Thoughts, Feelings, Attitudes, and Beliefs Do-Say Actions and Behaviors Attention and Perception See Thoughts, Feelings, Attitudes, and Beliefs Think-Feel Actions and Behaviors Do-Say
Non-resilient survival mode Threat Disengagement Giving up
Connection Growth and Learning Challenge Resilient thriving mode
Your brain s negativity bias
47%
Resilience topics for today What it is and why it matters What neuroscience has to say about it How to develop it in ourselves and others
Situational Resilience Practices Daily Resilience Practices Urgent Care Resilience Practices
Three kinds of resilience practices Urgent Care Resilience Situational Resilience Daily Resilience www.peoplefirm.com/changeresilience
Think about a difficult situation that is a problem or challenge for you. Reflect on that challenge as we do the following resilience practice.
Powerful questions for resilience Rise to the challenge What is the positive challenge or opportunity here? What is my bigger-thanself goal in this situation? What larger purpose might I serve in dealing with this situation? What is the hidden gift in this problem or situation? Connect with others Who might be able to help me here? How might they help me? Who else might be having this problem now? How might I help them? What wise advice would I give to my best friend in a similar situation? Learn and grow What might I learn from this situation? How might this make me bigger-better-stronger? How can I be my best in this situation?
Resilience practice in a nutshell Accept that life is one big long resilience practice. Show up for practice. Or you might wallow below the line. PAUSE are you above the line or below the line? If you re below the line, welcome to being human. Accept it. Don t panic. Take a few breaths. Practice self-compassion be your own best friend. Being overly hard on yourself (and others) is a surefire resilience killer. Below the line? Seek higher ground! Use powerful questions for self and others. Focus on bigger-than-self goals. Ask yourself a powerful question or two. Embrace and make use of the healthy stress that comes with being a bigger-better you.
Integration with change management Develop resilience in leaders Develop resilience in people impacted Build challenge, connection, learning, and growth into your change plans and activities
Today... After the conference...
Some of my favorite resilience and thriving resources Books Videos The upside of stress by Kelly McGonigal Positive Intelligence by Shirzad Chamine Mindset by Carol Dweck Just one thing by Rick Hanson You are not your brain by Jeffrey Schwartz Bouncing Back by Linda Graham Upside: The New Science of Post-Traumatic Growth by Jim Rendon The Power of TED by David Emerald How to make stress your friend by Kelly McGonigal (TED) Know your inner saboteurs by Shirzad Chamine The power of believing that you can improve by Carol Dweck Hardwiring happiness by Rick Hanson Grit: the power of passion and perseverance by Angela Lee Duckworth 75-year Harvard Study: Happiness comes from one thing by Robert Waldinger
Want more? Free webinar (to share with others) Additional resilience practices www.peoplefirm.com/changeresilience bill@peoplefirm.com