What is your Bounce Back Rate?

Posted on 14. May, 2009 by Linda Lord in Character development

You have been through a lot lately. It may be you have lost a job, lost an account, or are simply struggling to stay positive when everyone around you tends to be doom and gloom. The fact is, everyone has a story right now. The question is not what is happening to you, but how you are handling what is happening to you.

Your Bounce Back rate is your ability to come through a situation, stronger and smarter than you were before the experience. Emmy Werner was the first scientist to use the term ‘resiliency’ in reference to how children in Hawaii matured in conditions of poverty and parental alcoholism. Some children fared much better than others. What was the difference? The underlying protective factors that allowed some children to thrive in conditions that scarred others.

Resilient children and adults are expected to adapt successfully even in the face of adverse conditions because of these protective factors. Werner (1995)[distinguished three contexts for protective factors: (1) personal attributes, including outgoing, bright, and positive self-concepts; (2) the family, such as having close bonds with at least one family member or an emotionally stable parent; and (3) the community, like receiving support or counsel from peers.

Other factors that promote resilience have been identified by Matthew Tull, PhD (2007): “Posttraumatic Stress (PTSD): Overcoming Trauma”:

  • The ability to cope with stress effectively and in a healthy manner
  • Having good problem-solving skills
  • Seeking help
  • Holding the belief that there is something one can do to manage your feelings and cope
  • Having social support
  • Being connected with others, such as family or friends
  • Self-disclosure of the trauma to loved ones
  • Spirituality
  • Having an identity as a survivor as opposed to a victim
  • Helping others
  • Finding positive meaning in the trauma

As you consider what you have been through personally or professionally, reflect on how you coped with the situation(s). Would you consider yourself a resilient individual? Resilience can be built. Check out the following for information and resources.

http://www.lessons4living.com/resiliency.htm

http://www.resiliencycenter.com/

https://www.practicalpsychologypress.com/presscart/product_info.php?products_id=44

I am not endorsing these sites or programs, merely suggesting you check them out and see if they are resources that can be useful to you.

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