Emotional resilience is the ability to bounce back from life’s challenges and adapt to adversity with strength and grace.
However, certain habits can quietly undermine this vital skill, leaving you more vulnerable to stress and setbacks.
If you’re looking to build emotional resilience, the first step is letting go of the behaviors that hold you back.
In this article, we’ll explore seven habits to say goodbye to on your journey to becoming a more emotionally resilient person:
1) Dwelling on the past
We all have a past—and, sometimes, it’s not as rosy as we’d like it to be.
But here’s the thing: Continually dwelling on past mistakes and setbacks doesn’t do us any good.
It holds us back, keeps us stuck in a time and place that we can’t change.
Emotionally resilient people understand this—they know that they can’t rewrite their past, but they can shape their future.
So they make a conscious decision to let go of past regrets and disappointments.
They don’t ignore them, or pretend they didn’t happen.
Instead, they learn from these experiences, and then they move on—they use their past as a stepping stone, not a stumbling block.
If you’re constantly replaying old hurts and failures in your head, it’s time to hit the stop button.
Say goodbye to this habit, and watch your emotional resilience grow!
2) Overloading on negativity
I remember a time when I would start my day by scrolling through social media and news sites, only to be bombarded with negative headlines and stories.
It was exhausting. It felt like I was carrying a heavy weight around all day.
Turns out, this habit was seriously undermining my emotional resilience.
So, I decided to make a change.
I started limiting my exposure to negative news and replaced it with more positive and uplifting content.
Rather than focusing on what was going wrong in the world, I began to pay attention to what was going right.
And you know what? It made a world of difference!
Overloading on negativity doesn’t prepare us for the world; it depletes our energy and lowers our resilience.
If you want to be more emotionally resilient, consider taking a break from the endless cycle of bad news.
3) Ignoring your physical health
Your body and mind are interconnected—what affects one, affects the other.
Research has shown that regular physical activity can reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Exercise releases endorphins, the body’s natural mood lifters, and can also improve sleep, boost self-esteem, and increase energy levels.
Ignoring your physical health can take a toll on your emotional resilience.
Not getting enough sleep, eating poorly, or skipping out on exercise can leave you feeling mentally drained and less able to cope with stress.
Take care of your body if you want to boost your emotional resilience—it’s as simple as that.
Find a physical activity you enjoy and make it a regular part of your routine.
4) Keeping emotions bottled up
We’ve all heard the saying “don’t bottle up your emotions,” yet many of us are guilty of doing just that.
We push our feelings down, put on a brave face, and pretend everything is okay.
But here’s the truth: Suppressing your emotions doesn’t make them go away—if anything, it gives them more power.
Over time, these bottled up feelings can lead to stress, anxiety, and even physical health problems.
Emotionally resilient people understand the importance of expressing their feelings in a healthy way.
They allow themselves to feel, and they’re not afraid to communicate their emotions to others.
If you want to be more emotionally resilient, start by acknowledging your feelings.
It’s okay to cry when you’re sad, or express anger when you’ve been wronged.
Your emotions are valid, and expressing them is a crucial part of emotional resilience.
5) Fear of change
I used to be terrified of change.
The thought of stepping out of my comfort zone or doing something new was enough to send me into a panic.
But then I realized something: Change is a part of life—it’s inevitable—and my fear of it was holding me back.
When I decided to face my fear head on, I started to grow.
I learned new things, met new people, and had experiences I never thought possible.
And along the way, my emotional resilience grew.
Embracing change, rather than fearing it, can significantly boost your emotional resilience.
It allows you to adapt to new situations and bounce back from challenges more effectively.
If you’re holding onto a fear of change, it might be time to let it go—you’ll be amazed at what you can achieve when you do.
6) Constantly seeking validation
It’s human nature to want to be liked and accepted.
But when you rely on others for validation, your self-worth becomes dependent on their opinions.
This can lead to feelings of insecurity and lower your emotional resilience.
Emotionally resilient people understand their worth is not defined by others.
They appreciate compliments, but they don’t need them to feel good about themselves.
If you find yourself constantly seeking approval, try to shift your focus inward.
Celebrate your achievements, recognize your strengths, and value your uniqueness.
When you learn to validate yourself, you’ll build emotional resilience and become more confident in who you are.
7) Avoiding problems
Life is full of challenges and problems, but avoiding them doesn’t make them go away.
In fact, it often makes them bigger and more daunting.
Emotionally resilient people don’t run from problems.
They face them head on, tackle them, and learn from them; they understand that every problem presents an opportunity for growth and learning.
Avoiding problems can seem like the easier route, but it’s a habit that can seriously harm your emotional resilience.
The next time you’re faced with a challenge, don’t shy away from it.
Face it, deal with it, and grow from it—that’s the true path to becoming more emotionally resilient!
At the heart: It’s about perspective
The human capacity for resilience is truly remarkable.
It’s the quality that allows us to bounce back from adversity, to keep going when times get tough, and to grow stronger through our experiences.
There’s a quote by author Elizabeth Edwards that says, “Resilience is accepting your new reality, even if it’s less good than the one you had before.”
To be more emotionally resilient in life, it often comes down to a shift in perspective.
It’s about accepting change, expressing emotions, facing challenges head-on and not letting the opinions of others define your self-worth.
These aren’t just habits to say goodbye to; they’re shifts in thinking and behavior that can transform your life.
Emotional resilience isn’t developed overnight; it’s a journey.
Every step you take towards letting go of these habits brings you closer to becoming a stronger, more resilient version of yourself—and that’s a journey worth embarking on!
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