Resilience

By Erika Gileo, COO, EXIT Realty Corp. International

Resilience is defined by Merriam-Webster Dictionary as “an ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change.”

Every single day human beings show signs of incredible resilience.  How many people do you know who have been diagnosed with a terrible disease and have fought back and survived?  How many people in your circle have suffered the tragic untimely loss of a husband, wife, friend or even a child and have endured crippling grief to not just survive but thrive?  We have all heard the stories of people fighting back after major fire or weather damage, as well.  Then there are those people living in dire situations in many parts of the world who persevere despite unthinkable conditions.  The human spirit is incredibly resilient and there are innumerable examples that demonstrate this resilience in history and every day. 

On top of all of that, add a global pandemic to the equation.  Kudos to all the mothers and fathers who are juggling their regular daily work schedule while at the same time home-schooling their children.  What about the children who have adapted to online education while missing out on social activities, all with very little complaint? They are also great examples of human resilience.

None of this is easy, however, and here are a few suggestions to help build up your resilience muscle:

• A lot of what makes human beings resilient is our perspective and our mindset.  Having a positive mindset is the first step in overcoming life’s hurdles.  This is not always easy when facing fear, hurt or grief but it is very necessary.  Earl Nightingale said, “We become what we think about,” and this is very true.  Feeding our mind with positive thoughts is critical.  Don’t be afraid to seek help in this area.

• Feeding your body is also important.  Self-care includes everything from ensuring that healthy foods fuel our bodies, to making sure that we move every day to ensuring we rest so that our bodies can refresh.   I love this quote by Alex Gorsky, “None of us is Superman or Superwoman.  We all need to take care of ourselves to make sure that we’re ultimately having the best impact on the team and those around us.”

• Remove negative distractions from your life.  Important, but not always easy, especially during a global pandemic that in itself is very resilient.  Turn off the news, immerse yourself in nature and even unfriend or stop communicating with people who bring you down, if necessary, for your mental well-being.

• Be grateful for everyday blessings.  There are always things for which to be grateful, even something as small as someone remembering to replace the toilet roll.  😊

• Find things that bring you meaning and joy.  Get out of your comfort zone if necessary and take on new challenges.  Educate yourself and embrace change.  If you love what you are doing, it’s not work.

• Find ways to help others.  Where possible, volunteer for a local Habitat build or at an animal shelter.  Get involved in your community.  There are so many people in need right now.

The industry that binds us all is also very resilient, tenacious, in fact.  It gets knocked down frequently but always rebounds.   Successful REALTORS® too are tough and resilient.  They invest in themselves – their mindset, personal care and education. They challenge themselves every day; they come from a place of gratitude and embrace life and give back to others.

I am so proud of all the EXIT associates who are knocking it out of the park despite the challenges encountered.  Congratulations on your resilience and your successes.