Resilience

We tend to think that resilience is about being strong, keeping going in adversity, not giving in. Powering through.

But the science proves this wrong and there’s lots of evidence that overwork and exhaustion are the opposite of resilience.

In biology there’s a concept called homeostasis which maintains a constant internal environment in the body to continuously resource and sustain wellbeing. it takes more time and energy to maintain and restore this state if we don’t rest.

Just like the wise old oak tree we can preserve our energy, draw in our resources and let go of what we don’t need to see us through difficult times. Every winter trees seal off the supply of nutrients to their leaves and let them fall in preparation for resting through the winter.

In the right conditions an oak grows for 300yrs. It then lives for another 300yrs – no more growth just a little restoration. At this stage it beautifully sustains its life  - taking & giving just enough for its own welfare and that of thousands of other species too.

Human beings are probably unique in our ability to go against our nature and ignore our essential needs.

We escape from a reality that may not feel very fulfilling by keeping busy.

And being busy makes us more busy as we become inclined towards interruption. 

For 95% of human history people worked 15 hours a week.

Only since the industrial revolution have workers toiled up to 14 hours a day

We need to get off the hamster wheel of productivity where we work hrd to get money to pqy for the relief we need from working so hard. We need to build resilience by strategically stopping.

Can you give yourself the resources to be tough by creating the internal and external recovery periods? If you need some help and guidance check out Nature Fix.