Lean Into The Familiar

I used to be frustrated by the focus on resilience. Every time I saw a post about resiliency or read an article on ways to become even more resilient my first thought was, ‘if we fixed toxic workplace culture and systems we wouldn’t have to be so damn resilient.’

I have since realized that even in the most inclusive and welcoming culture, with systems and processes that allow team members to thrive, there will always be bumps in the road – a great example of ‘yes, and’! Yes, we need to make dysfunctional workplaces functional, and we must be mindful of and invest time in developing both organizational and individual resiliency. Change is constant – sometimes for the better, and sometimes not so much. When we increase our resilience capacity, we are able to bounce back. As author and speaker Simon Sinek tells us, when we are resilient, we can navigate the darkness and emerge stronger.

When I’m having a hard time finding my footing, one of my grounding techniques is to lean into the familiar. Leaning into the familiar provides a comfortable space where I know what is coming next and can take a moment to breathe. This helps me to be more resilient in the moment and builds my future resiliency energy stores. Revisiting a few of my favorite haunts on a recent trip to my hometown, Carbondale, is an example of leaning into the familiar.

I am a fan of Peloton and all types of activities that help me keep my body strong and moving forward. I have a favorite 45-minute interval and arms ride led by Ally Love that I repeat frequently. The class format, along with her excellent choice of popping music, verbal cues, and inspiration, keeps me coming back and fuels my resiliency muscle. It has been a repeated favorite this year.

This June, Dr. Kemba Marshall and I are presenting on individual and organizational resiliency at the ACVIM Forum in Louisville. Shout-out to MedVet for sponsoring our session! Co-presenting with Kemba (aka Kemmia) always fills my refillable cup and helps build my resilience. And even more resilience building – because ACVIM Forum is in KY this year, I’ll be able to spend time with family. Cheers to more cup filling!

What about you? Please take a moment today to consider what you are doing to refill your cup and build your resiliency muscle.

Stay tuned for a Resiliency Boot Camp that I am excited to share in the near future.

Bounce baby bounce!

Resources

Active Hope

APA Resiliency

Build for Resilience – Simon Sinek

Building a Resilient Organizational Culture

Building Organizational Resilience

Building Organizational Resilience Through Organizational Learning: A Systematic Review

Lost Your Job? How To Find Strength And Resilience After A Layoff

Not if, but when we need resilience in the workplace