July, 2010

Have you felt like your life was out of control and looked for who or what to blame? Then, in time, you got past that crisis and felt pretty good about simply surviving in the midst of great difficulty! I (Martha) have been in both situations. I think that is why I identified so strongly with Patsy Deerhake’s article in her wellness coaching newsletter Wellness Within Reach.

On Resilience by Guest Blogger Patsy Deerhake:

My husband tells me that the term “stress” is an old and tired concept. I agree that people may be tired  of hearing about stress. I know I get tired of hearing how stressed people are when it appears they are stuck and unwilling to move forward. It seems to me when people complain of stressors; they are in “victim” mode. They often just accept their plight without taking action.

Even those who cope well with stress are often in “survivor” mode. They’re just muddling through the situation and feel little control. I like to suggest to people who are experiencing stress that they choose the “thrive” mode. In this mode an unfortunate turn of events becomes a challenge, not a calamity.

Resilience is a concept that can move us beyond playing victim or even just surviving. Resilience is the ability to rebound from a difficult situation. When we are resilient, we are able to bend without breaking. Resilience may be developed and strengthened with practice.

Highly resilient people have been described as having stress‐resistant personalities and are able to learn from their experiences. Some qualities that increase resilience include healthy relationships, adaptability, emotional maturity, sense of humor, acceptance of others, creative problem‐solving, resourcefulness, openness and optimism.

Resilience is demonstrated by those who are able to rebound from difficult experiences, often by taking a unique perspective that allows them to see the opportunities a change in circumstances creates. It’s the ability to reject the victim mentality or even the role of survivor and discover ways to thrive in spite of a setback.

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Patsy Deerhake of Wellness Within Reach is passionate about empowering women who are juggling career, household and family to create the time and energy to get the lives they want and deserve.  She sees moms and caregivers trying to do it all – to be Superwoman. “I am a recovering Superwoman,” Patsy admits. Patsy works with clients to give up their frazzled, harried lifestyles and achieve greater quality of life.

To find out how to succeed without the cape, request The Superwoman’s Guide to Getting What You Want Without Losing What’s Important, a FREE report that outlines a six step process to help women assess what they want in their lives and take an initial step forward.