Insights

Several factors continue to surface during our interviews and conversations regarding recovering from pain and building resilience. Three of the most consistent are: Staying curious, your circle of advisors, and courage. Ironically and timely, these behaviors and applications of doing what matters, also relate to gaining your independence. While these concepts are likely related to most areas of independence, our focus today is your self-efficacy for health and performance. 

One of my favorite examples of how these resiliency principles present is the newborn learning to walk. The baby begins with thousands of attempts assisted by couches and tables, and helpful hands. Importantly, not too helpful regarding the hands. Before they take their first steps, they fall a lot! Once walking, they are still falling hundreds of times a day. Yet they show stoic indifference. 

Babies have an innate courage and their associations during these fundamental challenges can shape a lifetime.

Curiosity is necessary to start and sustain the rigor of learning to walk. Imagine if a six-month old baby said, “I know how to do this.”

Or if they blamed their failed attempts or falls on the wind or the walking surface. Rightly, they are relentless in staying curious and fascinated. Especially when they fail! Rarely considering that their stumble or plop could be due to something or someone other than them.

The circle of advisors for the beginning walker is one of the most encouraging groups you will find. They know how hard this is and they want you to succeed. They know it will not happen overnight. Developing resilience for this important function should take time. It is understood that important, good things take time. A wise circle of advisors understands that it is easy to hold the baby up and hard to let them fall. The courage to let them fall and be patient with their process can be a difference-maker for many of their steps in the future.

The circle of advisors’ attention to identifying what matters can be key to influencing a baby’s sense of courage. This baseline courage is priceless. The more we can trust our resilience the more independent we can be. Doing what matters can set us free.

For more about how this amazing feat is linked to your resilience click on the picture below.