Resilience: Weathering the Storms of Life

It’s been a whirlwind since we moved to our new town. Between running our art business, volunteering, and making repairs, Klee and I haven’t had a chance to catch our breath. We were in desperate need of a reset. Luckily, with winter, we have had some much-needed downtime. We needed to get organized.

Despite feeling a bit out of place since our move, we’ve tried to stay involved in art-centric events and help out wherever we can. But there is only so far one can push themselves. Recently, we’ve faced a new challenge, which caused me to reflect a little. In facing challenges, we have been called resilient over the last couple of years, and I wanted to dig a little deeper.

Resilience is the ability to recover from difficult situations, adapt, and bounce back when life throws curveballs our way. It is a critical trait to possess when unexpected events happen at any time. Resilience can mean the difference between giving up or pushing through the suck.

So, the question is, have Klee and I always been resilient? The answer is no. We may have survived many situations in the past, but we were not always resilient. To be honest, I think we can thank “being artists” for our resilience. So how did we develop resilience? Why is it that we persist instead of giving up?

One way to develop resilience is by being organized. Having a flexible system and being proactive about managing our lives has helped us handle difficult situations better.

When we are organized, we can more easily identify what is essential and what is not. By putting our priorities in order, we can ensure that we spend our time and energy on the things that matter most. Being organized can also help us to be more efficient, allowing us to accomplish more with less stress.

That was a big problem for us before, during, and after the move. Changing our lives so drastically threw a wrench into the systems we had in place. With every new obstacle, things seemed to become more and more overwhelming. That is why it is important to take as much time as you need to put things where they belong. Being out of whack is no fun, trust me.

Another way to develop resilience is by working smarter. This comes with getting organized. We can all benefit from taking a step back and reassessing our actions. Sometimes, we get caught up in the routine and don’t realize that we are making things more complicated than they need to be. By examining our processes and identifying areas where we can improve, we can streamline things and make them more manageable. This can reduce stress and make it easier to bounce back from setbacks. Cutting the fluff makes a difference in how you approach your days.

All that being said, even when we are organized and working smart, life can still throw us curveballs.

Unexpected events like storms, repairs, financial problems, or accidents can disrupt our plans and overwhelm us. In those moments, it’s important to remember that resilience is not about being invincible. It’s about being able to weather the storm and bounce back afterward. As artists, our entire career is built on resilience.

Here are some tips on how we stay resilient in the face of adversity:

Take care of yourself: When we are under stress, it’s easy to neglect our physical and emotional needs. But taking care of ourselves is crucial for building resilience. Eat healthy foods, get enough sleep, and make time for exercise and relaxation.

Lean on your support system: Don’t try to go it alone. Reach out to family and friends for support, or seek out a support group. Talking to others who have been through similar experiences can be comforting and help us to see that we are not alone.

Focus on what you can control: In difficult situations, it’s easy to feel helpless. But focusing on what we can control can help us to feel more empowered. Identify the things that are within your control, and focus on those. This allows you not to waste time thinking about things you can’t control that make you feel overwhelmed.

Practice gratitude: It sounds cheesy, but this step is essential. Getting caught up in what’s going wrong is easy, but focusing on what’s going right can help us develop a more positive outlook. Your brain chemistry changes when you do this, allowing you to think more clearly.

Learn from setbacks: This is life. We are going to experience roadblocks and setbacks. It can be frustrating and discouraging, but it can also be an opportunity for growth. Take time to reflect on what you can learn from the experience and how you can use that knowledge to improve in the future.

Listen, resilience is essential in a world of inevitable change and uncertainty. By being organized, working smarter, and caring for ourselves, we can develop the resilience we need to weather the storms of life. Remember to lean on your support system, focus on what you can control, practice gratitude, and learn from setbacks. With this, we can bounce back from just about anything.

It’s been a rollercoaster since we moved to this new town, but I’m excited to see where it takes us. Persistence spawns resilience, and resilience gives birth to focusing on what is going right in life. I’m excited to see what new adventures we’ll have and what new people we’ll meet. But most of all, I am excited to be alive on this adventure called life.

Watch our newest adventure, where we face our most recent challenge below.