Choosing Resilience with 1-5-7

Resilience is not synonymous with grit. A helpful image is to imagine grit is the engine of your human machine — it it often focused, strong and unyielding to challenges. It can help us go the distance in achieving long term goals. However it is not sustainable without proper care and lubrication — that is where resilience comes in…resilience is the oil that keeps the engine moving and running. During the pandemic many of us have been using our engine of grit at its maximum — but forgetting that it needs maintenance to remain running.

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Try my 1-5-7 plan to help you choose resilience for the long haul — choose 1 idea, engage in it for 5 minutes, 7 days a week

  1. Choose to be gentle with your body: When you wake up spend 5 minute with gentle stretches or connecting with your breathing. Allow the breath to settle low in the belly and expand the belly on the inhale and deflate it on the exhale.


  2. Choose to check in to habitual tasks: Notice what your shampoo smells like, how your hands feel when washing dishes, or what the toothpaste tastes like when brushing your teeth. Focus on the activity you are engaging in not past or future thoughts.


  3. Choose to find one bit of beauty each day: The late blogger Lisa Adams, who lived with metastatic cancer said “Find a bit of beauty in the world today. Share it. If you can't find it, create it. Some days this may be hard to do” recognize the small, mindful, joys that exist even within suffering and fear.


  4. Choose to S.T.O.P: S=stop T=take a breath O=observe P=proceed. This deliberate way of stopping helps to reset your balance and equanimity during stressful times.


  5. Choose a short reflective practice of creating: Write a haiku (5-7-5 syllables about something you observed), doodle, try Zentangle or mandala coloring.


  6. Choose to eat a meal or snack mindfully and silently: Notice your five senses, sight, smell, sound, touch and taste.


  7. Choose self compassion: Acknowledge what you have accomplished at the end of the day, not the tasks or items left undone.









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