10 WAYS TO INCREASE SELF-DETERMINATION AND RESILIENCE

Self-determination and resilience are important because they give us the strength to process and overcome hardships, see a way through obstacles, and achieve our goals. The term self-determination means an ability to make choices and decisions which affect your life, whereas resilience is your ability to bounce back from everyday setbacks and challenges. There are a number of ways we can increase our self determination and resilience – here are our top 10..!

1.   Set meaningful goals 

The first vital step in increasing your self-determination and resilience is to set meaningful goals, which align with your personal values and aspirations. These goals need to be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). 

2.   Cultivate a growth mindset

A growth mindset is the belief that most basic abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication and hard work. By cultivating a growth mindset, you increase your self-determination and resilience by developing your perseverance and resilience when you are faced with challenges.

3.   Practice self-reflection

The art of self-reflection is examining your own thoughts, feelings and behaviours to enable you to gain insight and make positive changes. By practising self-reflection, you are able to increase your self-awareness and develop strategies to enable you to cope with challenges in your life.

4.   Build a support network

Surrounding yourself with a support network of friends, family or indeed professionals, can provide you with both emotional support and practical assistance in times of dealing with stress or adversity. Building a functioning support network is an important part of increasing your resilience. 

5.   Practice self-care 

Self-care activities promote physical, mental and emotional well-being. By prioritising your self-care, you can build your resilience and increase your ability to cope with stress.  

6.   Practice gratitude

When we practice gratitude, we focus on the positive aspects in our life and express appreciation for those good things. If we are able to cultivate a sense of gratitude, we can increase our resilience and go on to build a positive mindset.

7.   Learn from setbacks

It is to be expected that we all experience setbacks and failures as a natural part of life. By learning from setbacks and seeing them as opportunities for growth and development, you can increase your resilience and build a sense of self-determination. 

8.   Practice problem-solving skills

By developing our problem-solving skills, we are providing ourselves with the ability to identify problems, generate potential solutions and implement effective strategies. When you practice problem-solving skills, you can increase your self-determination and develop effective coping strategies to help you through life. 

9.   Practice mindfulness

Being present in the moment and observing your thoughts and feelings without judgement gives you a sense of mindfulness. By practising mindfulness, you can increase your self-awareness and go on to develop a greater sense of resilience. 

10.   Seek professional help

If a lack of resilience or self-determination are interfering with your daily life and relationships, it might be a good time to seek professional help. A counsellor or therapist is able to provide guidance and support in a nonjudgemental environment to enable you to increase and improve your self determination and resilience. 

There is no simple path to increasing your self-determination and resilience – it will take time and effort, but it is possible with the right strategies and support in place. If you are able to set meaningful goals, cultivate a growth mindset, practice, self reflection, build yourself a support network, practice some self-care strategies, practice gratitude, learn from your setbacks, practice problem-solving skills, practice mindfulness, and perhaps seek professional help if needed, you can indeed increase your self-determination and resilience. Here at OLIP Therapy, formerly The Hampshire Hypnotherapy and Counselling Centre, we have over 100 years of experience in helping individuals to increase their resilience. Make that call today and trust us to take you on a journey to the life you want and deserve.