Have you ever had one of those days/weeks/months where the slightest inconvenience has left you in a tearful mess on the floor of your bedroom? I certainly have! If you find yourself having an overly reactionary response to something that you would normally brush off and take in your stride, your emotional resilience is being tested. 

The hard truth is, life is always going to throw us a few curve balls to keep us on our toes, but it is down to our emotional resilience that we can power on through. So exactly how do you become more emotionally resilient and how does it better your life?

How to become more emotionally resilient

1 - Sleep

We always come back to this, but sleep really is the cornerstone of resilience and coping with the turbulent journey that is life. We spend on average ⅓ of our lives getting shut eye, and the other ⅔ relies on how well we did it. It is not just babies that get cranky when they skip out on a few hours of valuable rest. When you have a poor night’s sleep you will probably wake up a bit more cranky than usual, and more emotional too. So next time you ask yourself ‘how can I become more emotionally resilient?’, sleep is one of the first places to start. Bring back naps!

If you are struggling to achieve a good night’s sleep you can find our top tips in Scentered’s blog ‘Start a Better Sleep Cycle Today’ and a little helping hand in the form of our SLEEP WELL Essentials Set here. 

2 - Optimism 

Now this is probably one of the toughest things to achieve on your road to emotional resilience. If you are faced with bad news or a tough situation, it is easy to hone in those negatives. However, those who are truly emotionally resilient are not delusionally optimistic, nor do they ignore the negatives… they simply acknowledge those aspects and disengage from those which are out of their control. If something has gone wrong, cut your losses and do not prolong your suffering by focusing on it. This is all about carefully balancing positivity with realism. 

3 - Don’t do it alone

Emotional resilience cannot be achieved without being surrounded by others who are lifting you up. No man (or woman) is an island! If you are looking to take control of your life and your emotions, surround yourself with emotional support, love and friendship. Whether this is in the form of a community, loved ones, friends or family, their presence in your life will reassure you that you aren’t alone. As humans we are innately social creatures, and having emotional support will not only allow us to be more emotionally resilient, but will help us to function optimally in every aspect of your life. 

4 - Be flexible

We aren’t talking about being able to touch your toes, but instead being ‘cognitively flexible’. If you are stuck in a routine and resist change, anything that (inevitably) affects your life will hit you harder and take its toll emotionally. Those who are emotionally resilient accept that life comes with surprises, unexpected turns and inevitable heartbreak. Be open to changing the way you think and the way you react to stress and challenges. There is no one-size-fits all way to cope with emotional strain, so adaptation is key.

How Emotional Resilience Betters Your Life

There are many ways to become emotionally resilient, but it is all about finding something that fits with you. If you are still struggling, seek emotionally resilient individuals in your life and simply ask them how they achieved it. They might impart a pearl of wisdom that can really work for you too. 

Once you have mastered this life skill, you will find life seems a little less daunting. Whilst a state of mind cannot change what happens to you, it will change how you respond.