“Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.”
J.K Rowling, the creator of Harry Potter, was a single mother on benefits in the mid-nineties. She says she was as poor as it is possible to be in the UK without being homeless. She sat in cafes in Edinburgh and typed out the first of her Harry Potter novels, and when it was finished, she took a deep breath and sent it off to a dozen publishing houses… It was rejected by every single one of them.
Why am I starting this post with such a tough tale? Well, even after all the books, the films, the fame and the fortune, J.K Rowling, says that across all of her achievements she is most proud of her time as a broke single mum in Edinburgh.
She hit rock bottom, and having relied on her personal resilience, she now realises that her rock bottom was really the foundation for her future success.
Covid has been tough. It continues to be tough, and there are few sectors that have been hit as hard as hospitality. If you’re reading this, you, or at least someone you know, may be facing uncertainty, professionally, financially, and most importantly, personally.
Resilience is a life skill. Those who have faced real adversity cite it as their most important personal quality, and below you’ll see a few tips on how to focus on yours for a while.
- Take care of yourself: Pay attention to yourself. Eat healthily, exercise regularly and do something you find relaxing. It sounds simple, but resilience isn’t a magic spell… it’s a habit.
- Help someone else: Find someone who needs a friend and be there for them. If you have time on your hands, look for a way to help others. Volunteer. Offer to walk a neighbour’s dog. You’ll feel good and it will help with number 3…
- Make connections: Good relationships with family, friends or community are really important. If it’s your turn to accept support, accept it. Things will get better and you’ll be able to repay any kindness you receive then. If you’ve lost touch, be the bigger person and make contact. You’ll be surprised how many people feel the same as you do right now.
- Acceptance: Change is a part of living. Your goals pre-Covid may have taken a kick, but your steps towards those goals, though smaller, are still crucial. Once you accept where you are today, you’ll be able to visualise tomorrow and do something about it.
- Take Action: If you find yourself feeling low, and worrying about debt, rejection or the lack of current opportunity, do something positive. Learn a skill, try a new experience. You’ll find that you are moving forward rather than standing still. It might be different, but different is good. Scary sometimes, but good.
- Take your own advice: Imagine a friend telling you that they were feeling a bit lost. What would you tell them? Listen to yourself… You’re wiser than you think, and you’re probably right as well.
- Find something funny: A book, a film, a book of cartoons, something on-line. When you laugh, you see things in a better perspective, and you find yourself feeling more positive about things. (tip…Always read something that makes you laugh before an interview! You’ll be amazed how much more engaging you’ll sound if you’ve been laughing.)
Clearly a single blog post isn’t going to give you a Degree in resilience, but hopefully you’ll pick up a few tips. Try them.
You’ll notice that I haven’t mentioned your attitude… Many people will tell you to keep a sense of perspective, not to see problems as insurmountable, or to nurture a positive view of yourself.
These are all very true and very valid, but if you’re feeling bruised, telling you to look on the bright side is easier said than done. Do something practical. Take some action, even if it’s tiny. When you’ve done that you can look back and feel good, then you’re moving forward…then you’re smiling…
Now you’re resilient.
Thanks for reading.
If you’d like to learn more about resilience, drop us a note here and we’ll signpost some resources for you.