Life is full of unexpected twists and turns that can leave us feeling off-balance and overwhelmed. Being able to maintain your center when thrown off balance by unanticipated challenges, poor luck, or outright tragedy is a key capability that helps us to be more resilient.

None of us know what events we may have to cope with around the next bend.

Anything we can do to strengthen our ability to weather unexpected storms and be more resilient is a good thing.

Because figuring out our own personal strategies to stay the course in the face of adversity elevates our ability to maintain our emotional well-being and mental health, even when things don’t go exactly as we planned or hoped.

And life is like that, too often.

How to Be More Resilient: Finding and Maintaining Your Center

“Finding My Center” doesn’t sound like something we would pencil into the calendar every day, but maybe it should be.

Because becoming more resilient benefits us, in all aspects of our lives.

It can help us work through family and relationship challenges, conflicts at the office, and it also may help us resolve past experiences or trauma that may still influence our daily thought patterns.

Being more resilient helps us cope with more minor ups and downs, disappointments, or frustrations that we each encounter in the course of our daily lives, too.

It can also help us to stay patient with ourselves and others, and to maintain a sense of calm even in the midst of stressful situations.

7 Ways to Find Your Center and Be More Resilient

Some of the easiest ways to begin to find your center include the following:

1. One powerful way to find your center is through the practice of mindfulness and meditation. Take a few moments each day to sit in silence, focusing on your breath and observing your thoughts without judgment.

This practice cultivates a sense of calm and helps anchor you in the present moment, allowing you to better handle life’s unexpected challenges.

2. Nature has a way of grounding and soothing the soul. When life feels chaotic, take a break and immerse yourself in the natural world. Go for a walk in the park, hike in the mountains, or simply sit in your backyard and observe the beauty around you.

Connecting with nature helps restore a sense of balance and perspective.

3. Physical activity is not only beneficial for your physical health but also for finding your center emotionally. Engaging in activities such as walking, yoga, or dancing releases endorphins.

These feel-good hormones help reduce stress, boost your mood, and bring a renewed sense of clarity and focus.

4. During challenging times, reaching out to loved ones can provide invaluable support and guidance.

Surrounding yourself with a trusted network of family and friends can offer comfort, perspective, and a sense of belonging.

5. Creative expression is a wonderful outlet for finding your center and processing emotions. Engage in activities such as writing in a journal, painting, playing a musical instrument, or practicing photography.

These creative endeavors help you tap into your inner world, gain insights, and express yourself in a way that brings peace and clarity.

6. Self-care is important for finding your center, too. Nurture yourself by doing things that bring you joy, relaxation, and rejuvenation.

Soaking in a warm bath, reading a book, practicing self-reflection, or treating yourself to a favorite activity or hobby may all do the trick.

7. Actively and purposefully practicing gratitude can help you find your center even in the midst of challenging times. Take a few moments each day to reflect on the things you are grateful for.

This simple act shifts your focus from the difficulties you face to the abundance and blessings present in your life.

Stay True to Your Center Even in the Face of Adversity to Foster Resiliency

Life’s curveballs are inevitable, and how we respond to them can make all the difference.

By incorporating one or more of these seven strategies ways into your daily life, you can build resiliency and become more adept at finding your center, even when faced with unexpected challenges.

Finding your center is an ongoing practice, so be patient and gentle with yourself as you embrace these strategies.

Watch as you begin to experience day to day setbacks with more grace and a positive attitude.

Keeping a steady demeanor as changes and stresses confront us is good for our mental health and also enables us to be the best parent, sibling, friend and person we can be.

Thank you as always for reading.

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KindCompassCoach

Joan Senio is the founder of KindCompassCoach. Her career includes 20+ years as a health care executive and 15 years (and counting) as a consultant. The common thread through Joan’s professional life has been a commitment to lead, mentor and coach current and future leaders, and women from all walks of life. KindCompassCoach provides information and advice grounded in Joan’s personal experience; however, all articles are backed by research and provide facts and advice from a wide variety of experts. Joan also serves as a thought-leader for KuelLife.com and is a regular contributor to PsychReg and Sixty and Me.