Human life is full of unpredictable events, a combination of happiness, criticism, loss, and so on. But what actually sets each one of us apart is how we deal with such situations. One of the most valuable qualities to overcome setbacks and failures is ‘resilience’. In other words, resilience is the ability to persevere and adapt to setbacks and challenges. It plays a pivotal role in assisting people in achieving their objectives and is a crucial part of an individual’s life. Each individual has the capability to become resilient, and the first step is to mend our ways in life.
Resilience requires a positive mindset, together with faith and willpower. Rather than saying ‘What if it does not work out?’, simply try to believe in your own capability. This ability is applicable in every aspect of life, be it in academics, personal or professional perspectives. It is not about avoiding difficult circumstances but rather facing them head-on, even if it results in failure and disappointment.
Developing resilience is obviously not an easy task, but life offers no triumphs without trials. As said by Robert F. Kennedy, “Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly”. Failure and mistakes do not make one incapable; it is only through these that individuals can learn, improve and create better versions of themselves. Cultivating resilience can help people in many ways, including maintaining good mental health, relationships, better decision-making, and problem-solving abilities. In this day and age, resilience is needed more than ever. One way to work towards resilience is to be able to accept uncertainty. One should strive to embrace difficult situations as much as possible. This fosters the human ability to manage stress, fear and anxiety in such situations.
Personally, resilience has been a major part of my academic success. Unsatisfactory results of my HSLC examination utterly discouraged me. But that did not stop me. Instead of dwelling on the past, I decided to overcome this disheartening phase of my life by striving to work harder and be consistent in it, which ultimately enabled me to perform much better than before. There were times when my faith and hope were wavering, but every time that happened, I reminded myself, ‘I can do it’ and ‘I will do it’. Had I stopped then, it would not have been possible for me to achieve my academic goals. Resilience has nurtured and transformed me into a wiser and stronger individual, and I strive to move forward in life in the same manner.
Resilience has been a major driving force for many successful personalities to date. We can take the example of a well-known personality, i.e., Thomas Alva Edison, popularly known for his light bulb invention. It is commonly believed that it took Edison 1,000 attempts to make the bulb. Edison himself said, "I have not failed. I just found 10,000 ways that won't work". This invention was possible because he remained steadfast towards his goal. Resilience was one of the primary causes of his success. His perseverance is something that one should look up to and move forward similarly.
Resilient individuals often view hardships as a challenge and opportunities to achieve their goals. This enables them to develop a growth mindset, which means being able to enhance their qualities. This indicates that resilience not only helps overcome stressful situations but also strengthens mental and emotional proficiency.
It is not merely limited to personal growth but can also foster societal growth. For instance, countries and communities that embrace change, adaptability and consistency often tackle better with all sorts of adversities, from minor to major hardships. In this sense, resilience is fundamental to both individual and social progress.
The human spirit retains the ability for renewal. Throughout history, people have shown resilience in harsh conditions. This strength emerges from our natural desire to survive and rebuild even in the most difficult periods of our lives. With the passage of time, constant perseverance becomes a major part of one’s life and liberates us from negative emotions and subsequently enhances our possibilities of success.
Resilience is the driving factor that enables individuals to face every challenge with courage. It is not about how many mistakes you make but rather how many times you are willing to try again every time you are faced with disappointments. It may seem impossible at first, but all we require is the willpower to transform ourselves into inspiring individuals. The power of human resilience lies in believing that setbacks are temporary and having confidence in self-worth. Being resilient does not necessarily mean having a completely stress-free life; however, it helps develop a deeper understanding, teaches us not to merely endure but to evolve and to rise stronger after every setback. Within every challenge resides a spark of reform, and it is through resilience that the spark grows into hope, wisdom, understanding and courage.
Degree of Thought is a weekly community column initiated by Tetso College in partnership with The Morung Express. Degree of Thought will delve into the social, cultural, political and educational issues around us. The views expressed here do not reflect the opinion of the institution. Tetso College is a NAAC Accredited UGC recognised Commerce and Arts College. The editorial team includes Chubamenla, Asst. Professor Dept. of English and Rinsit Sareo, Asst. Manager, IT, Media & Communications. For feedback or comments please email: dot@tetsocollege.org
