Spark Joy with Resilience

5 Ways to Spark Joy with Resilience

Tomorrow marks the first official day of spring.

Marie Kondo has become known as the “Guru of Tidying Up.” Her KonMari method of decluttering has launched what NPR called “an organizational renaissance” as well as a New York Times bestselling book and Netflix series. But her mission to help people declutter their homes has taken on a deeper meaning for many centered around one very simple question: Does this spark joy?

Is it time for some spring cleaning in your life? Is it time to get back to what sparks joy in you?

How many times you have felt unfulfilled, frustrated, or complained about something you aren’t happy with in your life? All too often, we remain unhappy with where we are, who we’re with, or what we’re doing, yet we continue to settle rather than change the situation.

While extremely difficult, it’s important to learn to get comfortable being uncomfortable. Resilient people challenge themselves to use their experiences as learning opportunities because they know that’s when they really grow.

Here are five strategies to get started:

1. Where are you settling?
What spaces in your life are filled by things for which you’re merely settling?

2. Identify the common denominator.
I come across people that share their unhappiness with everything in their life, ranging from their job to their relationships. Before you start making drastic changes, identify whether or not you are the common denominator. Remember, no one and nothing can make you happy. If you’re trying to fill a gap with something or someone else, first assess whether or not the void is something you really need to fill for yourself.

3. Wave a magic wand.
If you could magically design your life, what would it look like? I don’t think we set our goals too high and miss them, I think we set them too low and achieve them. Don’t be afraid to go after what you want.

4. Fail faster.
We generally stay stuck because we’re afraid of the unknown, so you have to change the way you think about failure. Rather than being afraid of it, view it as successfully figuring out what you don’t want to repeat.

5. Know your worth.
If you don’t believe you’re worth the best, you’ll always settle for less. Believe in your talents, strengths, and abilities.

Stephen C. Paul said, “The space for what you want is already filled with what you settle for instead.” What a powerful quote, thought, and overall philosophy. Stop waiting for permission. This is your life, and you have to own it!

– Anne

HOW RESILIENT ARE YOU?

We live in a world where we are bombarded with information, saturated with stimulation, and overloaded with deadlines, tasks, and deliverables. Demanding schedules, competing priorities, and a never ending list of to-do’s have made stress and burnout common place. Stress is the leading cause of heart disease, depression, anxiety, diabetes, high blood pressure, and a whole host of other ailments, and it has literally become a public health epidemic.

Resilience Training & Productivity

The good news is that research has found a way to help combat the many challenges associated with stress, and companies that practice this are more productive, more profitable, and higher performing as a result. More and more organizations are turning to resilience training to help their employees manage stress, navigate change, and overcome obstacles and setbacks.

Resilience Is A Skill That Can Be Learned

Resilience is not a personality trait but rather a set of skills and habits that can be developed and honed, and there are skills, behaviors, and attitudes that can be learned. For example, research has consistently shown a link between job satisfaction and the degree to which managers express gratitude to employees. Gratitude affects your brain at a neurological level, producing serotonin and dopamine (the brain’s feel good neurotransmitters), and reduces cortisol (our stress & “fight or flight” response). Practicing mindfulness has been found to significantly impact and improve the part of the brain responsible for memory, attention, and emotional regulation.

One size does not fit all. Learn a ton of cool ways to build your courage resilience.

This is a resilience revolution, and it starts with you!

Anne Grady is a Speaker, Author, and #Survivor.

Anne shares practical strategies that can be applied both personally and professionally to improve relationships, navigate change, and triumph over adversity. And she’ll make you laugh while she does it. Anne is a two time TEDx speaker, and her work has been featured in numerous media outlets, including Harvard Business Review, Entrepreneur, Forbes, Fast Company and Inc. magazines, CNN, ESPN, and FOX Business. She is the best selling author of Mind Over Moment: Harness the Power of Resilience, 52 Strategies for Life, Love & Work, and Strong Enough: Choosing Courage, Resilience and Triumph.

Spark Joy with Resilience