We are faced with moments of uncertainty throughout our lives that can leave us feeling overwhelmed, stressed and maybe even a little fearful. The military community is no stranger to this. At HOPE, we know mental strength and fortitude are essential to maintaining as we navigate the complexity of the world today. During these times, we encourage our warrior community to lean on us for support, and this resiliency toolkit can be a great place to start!
Prepare Yourself
Being prepared is the foundation of resiliency, and at HOPE, we know it is best to prepare for the unexpected. Just like our brave service members who put in countless hours of training, we too must train now to benefit ourselves in the future. Here are some key areas to focus on.
- Practice stress management. Whether it be meditation, physical activity, talking to others, or journaling, we all have different outlets for stress. Find what works best for you and begin implementing that in your daily routine so you’ll be able to tackle whatever life puts in front of you.
- Take care of yourself. We’ve all heard the saying, “before we can help anyone else, we must help ourselves first.” This applies to our overall mental, physical, and spiritual wellbeing. Take time to exercise, eat right, get enough sleep, and create an environment that promotes positivity. Trust us; these elements make all the difference in the long run!
- Have a plan. While we don’t know exactly what the future holds for us, having a plan for how your family handles adversity takes that pressure off you down the road to put something together on the fly.
Understand your Resources
Seeking help is another building block of developing resiliency. Often, we may not know what benefits are available to us until we need them right at that very moment. Taking the time now to become familiar with all your options ensures that should you ever need them down the road, you’ll know right where to turn.
- Review your employer’s benefits package to see if anything additional is offered to you and your family. There may be items like discounts, mental health resources, or online courses, just waiting for you to take advantage of!
- Connect to HOPE! If you are not already a member of our warrior community, click here to see all the programs and services we offer to support your overall wellbeing.
- Research organizations that serve the military community to find which one best fits your specific needs. A great place to start is Military One Source, which offers a variety of tools and resources to explore.
Manage your Recovery
A key player in resiliency is taking the time to recover after going through a difficult situation. These moments take a toll on our wellbeing and can cause us to feel burnout or discouraged. Taking time to slow down and recharge your batteries can do you a world of good!
- Give yourself permission to take a step back. This is often said to be the first step forward. If you’ve had to take time away from yourself to navigate your family through an overwhelming situation, now is the time to regroup and sift through your own feelings to figure out what YOU need to bounce back.
- Recognize your successes. No matter how big or little you think overcoming your situation is, celebrate it!
- Remember that self-care isn’t selfish. Listen to what your body is telling you. If you need something on your recovery journey, don’t be afraid to speak up or act on it! This ensures we come back stronger and are ready for what’s next.
No matter what situation stands in front of you and your family, HOPE is here to guide you on a path towards readiness. Resiliency is about adapting to and overcoming obstacles by embodying strength and courage, and we’ve got the resources to get your started. If you are interested in more resiliency training, click here to learn more about our Resilient Warrior and Resilient Family virtual courses that focus on techniques to improve your overall quality of life. To explore other ways HOPE can serve you, click here to connect to our services.