By Jessie Funk
One thing I do that helps me to be resilient is practicing forgiveness, namely, forgiving myself. Sometimes I say really stupid things, I do stupid things, and when I think about those experiences it stings really badly. When I feel the sting, I tell myself out loud, “you’re a good person Jessie, I forgive you, lesson learned, moving forward.”
I say it over and over and over again out loud until I feel better. This might sound cheesy and weird but it helps me so much because I realize that my worth is not dependent on my mistakes – or my successes for that matter. We are all human beings who are trying to figure out how to be human. There is no one-size-fits-all book out there that can teach us how to be perfect humans. We are all on our own journey and there is no possible way we can become the best versions of ourselves without making mistakes. Having that mindset can help us embrace the mistakes and not punish ourselves for them.
This idea can help us build resilience within ourselves. Resilience is not something you’re born with or not born with. It is something you learn and something you earn. You can exercise it like a muscle and it absolutely is a choice. It’s a freaking hard choice, but it is a choice nonetheless. Next time you feel mad at yourself or guilty or shameful about something you have said or done, tell yourself out loud that you forgive yourself. I guarantee it will not only help you feel better in the moment but it will build resilience inside of you like a muscle!
