“Resilience,” or the ability to bounce back after a struggle, is an important quality for first responders to have. Many people think being resilient is just acting tough or strong, not showing emotion, or just “pulling yourself up by your bootstraps.” However, “white knuckling” and pushing through a difficult experience can have negative long term effects.

True resilience is about supporting your mind and body well enough that you’re able to fully recover from difficult experiences, and emerge stronger, wiser, and whole. To become resilient, you put work in on the “front end,” before a crisis. When the tough times come, the support system you’ve built is like a trampoline that softens the impact and rebounds you back on your feet.

Think about the following wellness factors, and give yourself a grade for how well you’re prioritizing each of them.

Nutrition – are you eating regular, balanced meals with whole foods?

Stress – Do you use healthy stress relief options like exercising and working on hobbies?

Sleep – Are you prioritizing rest when you can?

Exercise – Are you physically strong and can depend on your body?

Relationships – Do you feel mutual respect and love for the important people in your life?

Spirituality – Are you at peace with how you see the world?

Together, all of these areas of wellness should be on point so your body and mind are prepared for the unexpected, and can process and walk away from challenges with true strength and vitality.

Need help building resilience? Check out Lighthousehw.org to learn more.

Lighthouse Health & Wellness Weekly Wellness Minute video series is brought to you in part by FirstNet, Built by AT&T.FirstNet and the FirstNet logo are registered trademarks of the First Responder Network Authority. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.