Do you have the B-B-B-B-Bounce????

Definition: Resilience is the ability of an object to return to its original form after being bent, stretched or compressed. Well that’s the dictionary’s definition of resilience.

For humans, it’s the ability to readily recover, to bounce back from setbacks, to overcome obstacles, to work though injury, to recover from ill health and to survive adversity.

Life can, and usually when we least expect it or need it, throw us a curve ball. Resilience has helped and will continue to help you on your life journey, both personally and professionally.

I wonder if Tiger Woods is feeling like he has the bounce-factor today?
An exert from The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper, 30 November 2009 by Peter Stone reads:

As John Daly landed in Australia this week for the Australian Open he might just have permitted himself a half-smile when he heard news of Tiger Woods, saying to himself, ”Well, at least it isn’t me this time.” This year, Daly has been a model citizen of golf. Not one damaging headline, well, that’s if you excuse those outrageously lairy strides he is wearing!

Jack Newton says he prefers watching Daly play golf more than most other players . ”He’s pure excitement. He’s incredibly skilful. I think he is one of the great characters of the game and, at times, he gets some extremely unfair criticism. I am sure all the world’s top players would agree.”

A few of them do. Just a year ago, Stuart Appleby remarked that Daly has more talent in his little finger than Appleby himself has in his entire body. ”He is amazing and gifted,” he said.

Daly tells of sitting in a clubhouse in the US after practice having a beer and a yarn with mates when Woods came through in his workout gear on his way to the gym. ”Hey man, don’t you ever get tired of that workout shit? Why don’t you come over and have a few beers with us and hang out,” Daly called out to Woods. Woods replied: ”If I had your talent, John, I wouldn’t have to work out.”

But what is resilience all about? What has Tiger Woods and John Daly got to do with reslience? Well everything because you can have talent. You can have obstacles. But without self-discipline you will never work at it, bounce back and achieve your potential.

>> It takes a lot to do the things you do and not get caught up in the emotion of what may or may not happen
>> It takes great discipline to stick to the things you have to do, rather than the things you want to do
>> It takes great discipline to block out the negativity around you
>> It takes great discipline to not listen to that little voice inside your head that tells you that you are getting a raw deal, or is asking, ”Why is this happening to me?”
>> It takes great discipline to stay focussed on the task at hand
>> It takes great discipline to deal with the fear and anxiety surrounding what you have to go through
>> It takes great discipline to overcome fear and anxiety by knowing things will be good if you do what is right
>> It takes skill to know what is right; but it takes a whole lot more to actually be able to do the right thing

It’s also all about independence and self reliance.

Resilience teaches us that whether or not what happened was our fault is inconsequential. But what makes it right is your responsibility: to stand up above all, and everyone else and take responsibility to get yourself to where you need to be and beyond. It takes a lot of character and courage not to go down the self pity, lay blame, why did this happen to me scenario.

You take responsibility for what happened and you take responsibility to overcome it. This is independence and self reliance at its best. But at the same time, you work with the people around you to get the best possible result in the time frame that you have.

You go through the test of having to ask yourself the tough questions. You do what is required to have the true insight and understanding of what is needed to allow yourself and others to deal with this situation and deal with it properly. Therefore, resilience requires insight and understanding.

Basically you take responsibility for where things were and where you needed them to be.

** However resilience also requires inter-dependence. That is… you know that you are responsible and it is ultimately up to you, but you recognise that you will require the help of others. Therefore, your selection of people becomes vital, as does your ability to place trust in them by letting them do what they need to do to help you.

** Resilience requires perspective. Where are things at and where do you want them to go? What needs to be done and by whom? What timelines do you have? What happens if this happens? All of these questions and situations require understanding and perspective of the highest calibre.
** Resilience requires enterprise. That is the need to take control of the situation and do it in a way that requires energy and effort. Open-minded thinking. Enterprise to realise what it takes to get this back to where it should be … and beyond.

** Resilience requires imagination. Where are you at and what do you have to do to go forward? You need to be open minded to what it will take to get the job done.

** Resilience requires principle. There is an easy way, a hard way and the right way to deal with things. In your mind there is only one way, and that is to do the things the right way ; by following the principles of character that have guided you though life –the lessons and ideals that were taught to you by your parents and family.

In the end though, resilience is about turning what others call “failure” or “insurmountable” into Success. Resilience is about the ideology of never giving up. Resilience is about doing what it takes to get things done and to get them done the right way.

Therefore, resilience is not a part-time thought; it’s a full-time action.

and remember: if you don’t quit…you will make it!
Cheers Shelley Taylor-Smith

PS: Is your Bounce Back Factor not as bouncy as it once was? Email Shelley at enquiries@championmindset.com.au with Subject Header: Shelley, I need help with my bounce back factor! and qualify to Pick Shelley’s Brain for Free! for 10mins.