Yesterday was a day filled with work, work sitting on my chair at home looking at the computer. Some of the work was via virtual zoom meetings, seeing some faces, hearing some voices. The monotony was broken up by a wonderful ACP webinar by Kerri Palamara (Positive Psychology Strategies in Time of Crisis: Supporting Each Other). One Happiness booster resource she shared was a Coca Cola commercial. It made us laugh. After the webinar, I worked for three more hours.
Finally, I shut down the computer and got on the treadmill. I put on 1970s music and listened to The Love Shack, some Beatles and ABBA songs. Then I decided to watch Grey’s Anatomy on Netflix. You have to realize, I used to condemn this show until my son got into surgical residency. After which I decided to watch it to see what the life of a surgery resident here looks like. While some aspects are truly, truly far-fetched, over dramatized and OMG’s , the scenes do unpack some real and meaningful concepts related to ethical dilemmas and calamities faced in healthcare.
But more than anything it took my mind off the present anxiety, fear and emotional exhaustion that I was experiencing. I walked for an hour, smiling, laughing, sweating and good physical exhaustion, I felt recharged. To me, grit and resilience are more about the acceptance of this new reality and knowing that we will be find solace in community with each other.
Grit: the raw endurance, perseverance and passion that keeps you going despite obstacles. ~Anonymous
#REFLECT How are grit, coping and resilience related? Is anyone of these more desired than the others?
How is the coronavirus changing the way you think of self-care, community and resilience? As these times are unfolding, I am posting daily quotes on this blog with a reflection prompt. Please join in the conversation here or at Twitter about your thoughts and what you are doing for self-care and care of others.
In my view grit, coping and resilience form a triangle; with coping being the apex supported by grit and resilience at the base.
Grit and resilience are needed to resolve problems. Grit is tough, even brutal and traumatic at times while resilience is soft and elastic, incapable of hurting. The two may appear contradictory to each other but both can achieve the same objective i.e. coping with situations.
Grit is the courage and strength needed to resolve against all odds, with a single-minded conviction. Resilience is the path of flexibility, accommodation and adjustments towards the same aim. Resilience is elastic, allowing expanding the vision and outlook or retreating to the original state as needed for coping.
Grit, the inner strength comes from the heart and provides endurance; resilience influenced by environmental factors is the product of the mind and provides sustenance.
Coping is the desired objective. Grit and resilience can achieve coping either independently or through the required proportions of each, dictated by the situations and circumstances.
The common factors between the two however, are the endurance and persistence with passion that is needed for coping with any situation. Ultimately the outcome is influenced by our own capabilities, environmental influences and our destiny. Grit, the determination; and resilience, the flexibility, both applied judiciously keep us going and allow us to cope with any situation, even against all odds.