Reframe: How to Be Resilient in the Face of Adversity
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adversity in our lives, we personalize the struggle, making it hard to separate ourselves from the shame we feel about the struggle itself. Do you often find that you blame yourself for the hard knocks you experience in life?
3. Pervasiveness (“Bad things always happen to me”): Pervasiveness within the context of adversity is the belief that “bad luck always happens to me.” It is the deeply held belief that bad luck will permeate every corner of your life and that you are predestined to be a victim to it. To be resilient, we need to find the sliver of what’s good in our lives and cling to that with intention. What’s good in your life right now?
Educator Resilience When it comes to addressing the pervasiveness of teacher stress and retention, resilience is important (Harmsen, Helms-Lorenz, Maulana, & van Veen, 2018; Kelchtermans, 2017). Educator resilience depends on a few key factors, including gratification on the job, dedication to the role, effectiveness, ability to stay engaged and motivated, overall healthy mindset, and optimism (Mansfield & Beltman, 2019). Additionally, teachers can develop many of these indicators of resilience during their preservice training (Gibbs & Miller, 2013). Therefore, it is important for postsecondary institutions to provide explicit resilience training and extensive social supports during teacher education programs (Mansfield, Beltman, Weatherby-Fell, & Broadley, 2016). (BRiTE, which is available at www.brite.edu .au, is an example of an online resilience-building tool that offers resilience training.) Researchers find that preservice teachers with strong social support networks,
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2. Permanence (“I will always feel this way”): Permanence is the belief that things will stay static and will never change, and that, somehow, you will always feel the way that you do in this moment. When it comes to challenging moments, permanence can take the form of despair. Despair is the belief that things will always be as bad as they are now (Bell, 2020). When we are struggling, it can feel impossible to believe that the struggle will ever end. When you believe that your circumstances can change, you develop a more resilient mindset. Hope is the belief that there will be a better tomorrow. Where you are right now in your life does not have to be where you remain. Tell yourself, “This is temporary. This will not last forever. I can get through this tough period.”