Resilience - what it is, why it matters and how to cultivate it
What is Resilience?
Definition: Resilience refers to the ability to endure; to withstand challenges, difficulty and change with grace and fortitude. It also refers to a certain degree of physical, emotional and mental fitness - the capacity to continue going forth with hope and the appreciation of being alive. Those who are resilient possess an adeptness to persevere, despite odds seemingly to the contrary.
Importance: We are, as a species, in a time of great transformation. It is potent with enormous possibility and potential to change the trajectory of our world from one of individualism and competition to one of solidarity and cooperation. In order to ensure a truly sustainable future, one in which all life flourishes indefinitely, it is essential to examine and redefine our values, what truly matters in this life, and reawaken our innate human capacity to care for one another and the Earth. This is our current task, as individuals and a collective. Cultivating resilience allows us to remain steady in our focus on what matters deeply to us, to come back to our task when we have lost it.
Botanicals Promote Physical Resilience
Reishi Mushroom: Ganoderma lucidum
Reishi is one of the oldest medicinal mushrooms, having been used for thousands of years in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). It is known for many therapeutic benefits, including but not limited to: enhancing vitality and immune function, minimizing the detrimental effects of stress, nourishing the nervous system, and supporting/protecting the liver. Used daily as a tonic, it provides nourishment and support for nearly every system in the human body, increasing resilience and the capacity to adapt.
You can add Reishi mushroom to your daily health protocol in any number of ways:
Purchase the whole mushroom, fill a crock pot with water and simmer on low for 12 hours. Strain and drinking 1-4 ounces of the liquid daily. (keep refrigerated and consume within 4 days)
Purchase the powdered fruiting body extract and add 1/2 tsp to smoothies, your morning coffee or super greens in water. I have tried and can attest to the efficacy and therapeutic potency of medicinal mushrooms from Real Mushrooms
Purchase the tincture (I prefer Herb Pharm brand) and take 2 droppersfull twice daily in a small amount of water.
**Reishi is extremely well tolerated and has no known toxicity when taken within recommended dosage range
Nature Connection Fosters Emotional Resilience
Forest Bathing/Shinrin Youku
Mindful Time in Nature: There is voluminous scientific data showing that spending time in nature offers immense health benefits for humans, including: increasing immune responsiveness to infection, decreasing blood pressure and reducing anxiety. As an Ecopsychologist, I am committed to re-establishing a relationship between humans and the other-than-human world that is fundamentally infused with reciprocity and respect. Nature immersion offers immense opportunity to reawaken awareness of our interconnectedness with all beings, and the indisputable fact that our survival depends on the survival of that which sustains us. Simply stepping outside your door with senses attuned has an immediate calming effect on the nervous system.
Forest Bathing/Shinrin-Yoku: Guided nature immersion, such as the practice of Forest Bathing or Shin-rin Yoku, builds resilience, as it contributes to optimizing emotional, mental and spiritual well-being. Spending mindful time in nature also increases resilience by enhancing our ability to trust, expanding our capacity to be with ‘what is’.
Gratitude Optimizes Well-being and Expands our Capacity to Be with What Is.
Gratitude calls to mind the preciousness of life and of how we are supported, receiving what we need exactly when we need it. It promotes a sense of trust in the unfolding of our lives.
Offering gratitude brings us into the present moment, connects us to our hearts, and aligns us with self, source, and the divine.