Learn to be Resilient

From the Editor’s Desk

We all need to learn to be resilient in the face of adversities because they are a part and parcel of life. Swami Mukundananda defines resilience as the ability to rebound readily after being bent over by adversity, illness, and calamity. Success on the spiritual journey demands resilience! More often than not, people experience failure, hardships, and challenges in life. It is rare to have a smooth-sailing life without upheavals. This month let us learn something more about resilience through material and Vedic knowledge (i.e., tatvagyan) along with practical tools for application. 

Vedic Wisdom & Application

Challenge of the Month

Learn to be Resilient

Reflection Questions

  • What is Resilience?
  • What Factors Contribute to Resilience?
  • How does Spirituality Increase Resilience?

What is Resilience?

The word resilience is derived from the Latin term resilire, which means to recoil or rebound. It is the ability to quickly adapt and recover from traumatic and tragic events in life. For example, losing a loved one, losing your home in a natural disaster, or losing a job. It even includes ongoing events like being caught in the middle of mass shooting, experiencing poverty, financial stress, a pandemic, racial discrimination or bullying in the workplace, etc. Swamiji defines resilience as the ability to rebound readily after being bent over by adversity, illness, and calamity. 

Resilience is not about emotional detachment from events, but about the extent of flexibility and adaptability in the face of unpredictable external challenges. It is also not about one’s staying power in abusive situations. Being resilient does not mean that a person will not experience stress; it is about how well people manage stressful events based on their mindset, attitude, and life experiences. 

It is important to develop resilience because it enables us to withstand and overcome trauma than to become overwhelmed and incapacitated. Developing resilience helps to maintain a sense of equilibrium in the face of stressful events―to rise from the ashes like the legendary phoenix. Specifically, in relation to ongoing challenges in the work environment, developing resilience can help to prevent burnout, experience greater job satisfaction, contribute to a sense of purpose, and improve relationships with colleagues.

What Factors Contribute to Resilience?

A variety of factors contribute to developing resilience including stable environmental supports and personal characteristics. While the extent of impact that these factors play on minimizing risk and increasing resilience may differ across age groups, gender, and cultures, it is generally agreed that these facilitate inner resilience. 

  1. A Strong Social Support Network. Supportive family relationships are crucial for a sense of well-being and resiliency. In fact, this is one of the most fundamental contributors of resilience in children and adults. People who feel loved, supported, and cared for by their family members, are more resilient when compared to those who lack family support. Research has shown that individuals who experience conditions of abject poverty, domestic abuse, violence and grief from the loss of a parent, tend to be resilient when they have reliable social support from friends or adults outside the family.
  2. Ability to Problem-Solve. Cognitive competence is critical to comprehend the seriousness of the challenge, reframe the problem, objectively assess one’s ability to problem-solve, and find viable solutions when facing a traumatic event. These traits are highly correlated with resilience. Intelligence is a protective factor in that people with higher intellectual capacity have deeper insight into the cause of stressors, are able to foresee the consequences of different options, and choose effective problem-solving strategies. They have a clearer perception of the severity of the problem, are better at self-assessment of skills needed to problem-solve and have good judgement about when to seek outside assistance. 
  3. Ability to Execute the Solutions with Confidence. Self-efficacy and self-esteem are highly correlated with resilience based on existing research in this area. The confidence that develops from having faced problems squarely and being successful at overcoming failure, contributes to resiliency. Those who tend to escape problems through inaction, are unable to restore self-confidence at the end of a traumatic experience. In comparison, individuals with a higher sense of self, are able to quickly restore self-efficacy in executing procedures needed to overcome challenges. 
  4. Self-Regulation of Emotions. Self-regulation is an important characteristic for success in life. The ability to control negative thoughts, emotions and impulses, is associated with more resilience. Longitudinal studies with children raised in poverty and low social status, have documented a positive correlation between resiliency and self-regulation, coping, an internal locus of control, optimism, and empathy. Resilient children are more likely to manage adverse conditions, show better social skills, have hope for better outcomes, and find acceptance in prosocial groups.  
  5. Ability to Choose Positive Thoughts. Individuals who truly believe that struggles in life make them resilient and more capable of problem-solving, are more likely to choose positive and inspirational thoughts, draw upon their faith, and be determined to withstand stressful events. They resist ruminating on the negative thoughts and move forward having learned important lessons about themselves and life. 
  6. The Practice of Spirituality. There are a cluster of factors associated with what motivates people to rely on spiritual beliefs to direct their efforts to find effective solutions during challenging times. These are associated with the knowledge on how to build a relationship with God and Guru, understand the purpose in life, and faithfully implement spiritual practices that increase the ability to withstand, adapt and overcome challenges. Those who practice spirituality, perceive hardships as a blessing from God and an opportunity for inner growth through austerity of the mind. This mindset promotes resiliency.

How does Spirituality Increase Resilience?

Developing resilience through spirituality is an individual journey unique to each person. However, there is evidence to support that people respond to stressful events much better if they are grounded in spirituality. Swamiji has taught us the power of spiritual beliefs when drawing upon one’s inner strength to deal with problems, and why God sends challenges in our life:

  1. Teach us mental austerities. Internal growth is enhanced when we step outside our comfort zone and tolerate discomfort. Thus, we should perceive these as a blessing in disguise. If we do not experience challenges, we will become complacent and stop remembering God and His endless graces. We can choose to think like Kunti Devi who asked Shree Krishna for difficulties so the Pandavas would be blessed with His presence, protection and divine grace. 
  2. Enable evolution of the soul. Difficulties teach us lessons that are necessary for the evolution of the soul. As we navigate through life with the purpose of accepting His will, our humility and gratitude will lead to ultimate spiritual perfection which is the true source of inner happiness.

मन: प्रसाद: सौम्यत्वं मौनमात्मविनिग्रह: |
भावसंशुद्धिरित्येतत्तपो मानसमुच्यते || 16||

Manah-prasadah saumyatvam maunam atma-vinigrahah
Bhava-sanshuddhir ity etat tapo manasam uchyate

Serenity of thought, gentleness, silence, self-control, and purity of purpose—all these are declared as the austerity of the mind. [Bhagavad Gita 17.16]

  1. Strengthen our spiritual beliefs. If we believe in the Law of Karma that there is never injustice in God’s court, and the difficulties are the fruits of our own karmas, then instead of running away from challenges or complaining about them, we will learn to accept these as a grace of God.
  2. Need for divine grace. We need to recognize that we do not have the ability to control everything in life. Only in a state of helplessness, we realize that nothing other than divine grace will work. It is then that our faith in God and Guru increases. We must believe that they are causelessly merciful and whoever seeks their shelter, will receive divine grace. The divine grace could manifest in ways other than what or how we expect, but it is still grace. This belief increases resilience.
  3. Establish a strong foundation of internal spiritual growth. Just like bamboo that takes years to strengthen its roots before shooting up to 80 feet or higher, the challenges we experience help us to establish a strong foundation of faith, devotion, purposeful existence and the courage to face challenges.
  4. Detach from outcomes of actions. To accept that God and Guru know what is best for each one of us at all times. Thus, we must accept the wisdom that only the effort toward problem-solving is in our hands but not the outcome. As Shree Krishna explained to Arjun:

कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन |
मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि || 47 ||

karmaṇy-evādhikāras te mā phaleṣhu kadāchana
mā karma-phala-hetur bhūr mā te saṅgo ’stvakarmaṇi

You have a right to perform your prescribed duties, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions. Never consider yourself to be the cause of the results of your activities, nor be attached to inaction. [Bhagavad Gita 2.47]

 

  1. Attitude of gratitude. Challenges help us to learn to be grateful that what we are experiencing is not as bad as what many others are facing. An attitude of gratitude―an essential aspect of spirituality, helps to develop sublime qualities like faith, devotion and inner resilience.  
  2. Develop positive characteristics. Hardships teach us life lessons that we would not have learned otherwise. We learn positive characteristics like anticipating problems, putting problems in proper perspective, gathering courage, drawing upon one’s inner strength, making the effort to face and solve problems bravely. These enable us to be more resilient with time and experience.

Tools for Your Personal Growth

Do you know how we develop resilience over time to help us deal with challenges in life? A downloadable Worksheet to Build Your Personal Resilience is available for you to use. Respond to the questions to help you identify the most effective strategies so you can make a plan for how to handle a traumatic event when it occurs in future.

Do you know how we develop resilience over time to help us deal with challenges in life? Remember, change takes time!

Love to Hear from You

  • How did you apply the Vedic Wisdom?
  • What challenges did you experience in the process? 

Please share your comments under “Join the Discussion” below.

Gems of Wisdom from Swamiji

Here are some YouTube video titles and related links where Swamiji describes ways to develop inner strength, resilience and inspiration to keep moving forward.

Hold Your Breath! Check out Upcoming Events

We are very excited to share two dynamite events that everyone is looking forward to this month!  

Sanskriti 

JKYog nurtures talent, creativity, and initiative of children and youth through a unique program like Sanskriti. It provides an opportunity to showcase talent in numerous categories to represent and celebrate our cultural heritage. Sanskriti is the forum where youngsters integrate creative expression and devotion through knowledge and skills in the performing, literary, and other arts! There will be many different contests in multiple areas.

This year Sanskriti will be held in person for three consecutive days!  

When: February 11 to 13, 2022 
Where: Radha Krishna Temple, Allen, TX

Everyone is invited to register for any or all events of their choice. A special awards ceremony will be held at the end to recognize the winners by category and age group. 

Inviting Nominations for JKYog’s International Women’s Day Awards

JKYog invites nominations for and from women who have achieved global excellence through their contributions and left an indelible mark in their respective fields.

Award Categories

•    Woman with a Cause – Social Leadership Award
•    Woman with Drive – Business Leadership Award
•    Woman with a Green Vision – Environmentalist Award  
•    Woman STEM Achievers – STEM Excellence Award

Nomination Documents (Link to submit nominations)

•    A 200-word summary of the nominee's contributions
•    A detailed Resume that showcases excellence
•    A separate document to highlight honors, awards, publications, or patents
•    References (optional)

Deadline

February 20, 2022, by 11:00 PM CST (February 21st IST by 10.30 AM). 

Voices from the Global Community

Let us introduce you to a member of our global community who has been impacted by the scriptural knowledge as taught and disseminated by Swamiji.  

This month, we feature Preeti Talati ji who is an active member of the JKYog community. She retired from a career in real estate five years ago to pursue higher goals in life that would be more fulfilling. It was then that she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Please watch this very inspirational video where Preeti ji describes how she benefitted from Swamiji’s teachings as she went through her treatment and eventual cure.   

Please watch the video where Preetiji describes how he benefitted from Swamiji’s teachings. 

We invite you to share your inspirations and success stories with us at secretary@jkyog.org .

JKYog Transforming Communities

Here, we share the amazing activities and news about programs conducted by various JKYog centers in the U.S.  

JKYog Online Classes: The Pathway to Spiritual Knowledge and Cultural Heritage

JKYog has transformed the lives of countless people across the world by offering scores of free classes for adults, youth and children. These classes are designed to enhance spiritual knowledge, cultural stewardship and devotion. From morning to evening, 7 days a week, there is at least one class which a seeker could join for inspiration, devotion, knowledge and skill. Many of these classes have regular recurring attendees but we heartily welcome new members with great joy! 

  • Interested in acquiring or maintaining the pure knowledge of the Vedic scriptures? You can join any of the Bhagavad Gita sessions, Vedic philosophy, Patanjali Yogsutras, Krishna Leelas, Bhakti Shatak, the Book Club, etc.
  • Need a dose of devotion and inspiration to start or end your day? Join Morning Gems with Swamiji, Satsang, Kripalu Paddhati, or Kripalu Kirtans. 
  • Keen to learn a new language like Sanskrit to better appreciate the Vedic knowledge? Join the class for beginners. 
  • Do the various arts interest you? Join one or more classes focus on performing arts, speech and debate skills, yoga, etc. 

There is nothing that JKYog does not offer for the benefit of the global community. Check out the vast range of classes for all age groups. Register and join now for the most interesting and interactive connections with like-minded people. 

Glimpses of Past Events

Want a glimpse of our beautiful Jagadguruttam Diwas celebration?