How can we build resilience this summer while enjoying?
First of all, what does it mean to be resilient?
In the dictionary, I found this definition: resilient: (of a person) recovering easily and quickly from shock, illness, hardship, etc.
Joy will help us recover more quickly. When we feel joy and allow ourselves to stay in that feeling for a while, the neuronal connections in our brain get stronger. It builds a kind of highway for quicker access to that feeling. The same is true for all the things we feel, think, and do… the more we practice, the easier it gets! Therefore, let’s practice joy and enjoyment!
That’s why I propose this little exercise:
How to enjoy even more your summer (vacation) and build resilience
Enjoyment can be active and also be quieter, like resting and going inside.
Summer has a fiery energy that lends itself to partying, celebrating, and going out.
Joy can come from being with people, spending time with friends, and engaging in fun activities together, such as cycling, tennis, hiking, dancing, partying, and enjoying dinner parties. That is marvellous, exciting and at times just the thing to do.
Sometimes, though, we go with what our mind tells us instead of checking in with what we really need because it’s what we’re supposed to do, what others do, what is THE THING to do…
Enjoyment can also be quieter, such as resting and going within, as in meditation. There is a possibility to relax, restore, and rebuild. Because you don’t need to work on vacation, you can do whatever is best for you! But how do you know what’s best for you?
3 steps to become aware of what’s enjoyable and the best for you:
- Take a moment to become aware of what you need and want! This changes all the time, so what you want in the morning is probably different from the evening… and what was right and pleasurable for you yesterday may not be the same as what lights you up today!
- Do whatever you noticed in step one.
- Afterwards, take a moment to feel what it did for you and stop doing that if it makes you feel crappy. Or, repeat it as long as it feels good!
If you noticed in step one that you need more quiet enjoyment, meditation could do the trick: there are so many different meditation techniques!
Check out other meditations here
