Resilience
Resilience is an important characteristic to cultivate, to maintain physical and emotional wellness over time. Resilience means - learning to bounce back when confronted with adversity, obstacles, or frustrations in life.
Developing resilience is particularly important in times of crisis, challenge, or difficulty. Our adversities can break us down - or they can build us up, making us stronger, wiser, more compassionate, and more capable than we were before. There are lessons to learn from every experience in life - even the most difficult or heartbreaking ones. Resilience means getting up again after we fall, learning our lessons, and then moving forward in new and better ways. The resources in this section will help develop this increasingly important characteristic.
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Six Steps to Forgiveness
Have you ever felt this way? "I'm having a hard time forgiving. I know I should - but I don't really know where to start." Such feelings are very common, particularly among those who are feeling troubled or distressed in some way.
Such individuals feel the heavy weight of unforgiven offenses. These hurts continue to bring pain long after the original offenses took place - sometimes years or even decades after. Old resentments often breed ongoing problems with trust, closeness, and security in relationships. They can interfere with sleep, contribute to depression, and trigger physical health issues. They can get in the way of promising new relationships - because of deep suspicions and fears born of old hurts.
Learning to forgive is one of the most important lessons in life. Some people struggle with forgiving other people they have felt hurt by. Others find it difficult to forgive themselves of old mistakes and weaknesses. Some really struggle with forgiving God - feeling He has forgotten them, or abandoned them, or deprived them of something they valued highly. Forgiving oneself and others is an essential ingredient for a serene and happy life. Some simple steps can help get you started on this important journey:
LDS Articles on Adversity
With increasing frequency, LDS leaders have given talks intended to strengthen listeners in the midst of difficult or challenging times. Frequently, they make the observation that we are living in the "perilous times" of which Paul spoke. (2 Tim. 3: 1.) In such times, we can learn to trust God, and draw on a deep and powerful strength within ourselves. The insights from these talks can help.
Favorite Articles:
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Jeffrey R. Holland, “Cast Not Away Therefore Your Confidence," Ensign, March 2000. An impassioned, powerful talk, first delivered at BYU on 3 March 1999 in the Marriott Center. Other links to this talk: Transcript of the original BYU talk; Video of the full talk. (One of the most important talks ever given on dealing with adversity.) |
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Neal A. Maxwell, “Endure It Well,” Ensign, May 1990. ("True enduring represents not merely the passage of time, but the passage of the soul—and not merely from A to B, but sometimes all the way from A to Z. To endure in faith and do God’s will therefore involves much more than putting up with a circumstance." |
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Dallin H. Oaks, “He Heals the Heavy Laden,” Ensign, November 2006. "The healing power of the Lord Jesus Christ—whether it removes our burdens or strengthens us to endure and live with them like the Apostle Paul—is available for every affliction in mortality." |
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