Falling Down Is Part Of Life

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“There comes a time in life, when you walk away from all the drama and people who create it. Surround yourself with people who make you laugh, forget the bad, and focus on the good. Love the people who treat you right. Pray for the ones who don’t. Life is too short to be anything but happy. Falling down is part of life, getting back up is living.”

Resilience or the ability to bounce back is a trait successful people share—not just in business but in life. Psychologists describe it as a key component of emotional intelligence.

In a 2013 study by Schneider, T. R., et al. of the Wright State University, they found that people with higher emotional intelligence were less affected by stress compared to those with lower emotional intelligence. They see stress more as a challenge than a threat.

People with high resilience see adversities as challenges. They’ve learned how to absorb disruption and manage their emotions. As the saying goes, “Resilience is forged through diversity, not despite it.” Contrary to what it seems, resilient people also have their moments of weakness. This is best described in John M. Fisher’s “The Personal Transition through Change Curve”, a model used to illustrate the stages of personal transition and organisational change.

In the model, the person undergoes a variety of emotion before he finally has the strength to move forward. It’s called a curve for a reason. The emotions vary from happiness to sadness to acceptance, until one finally decides to move on. On the other hand, if he would rather be complacent, he will never get past the situation. He is also at risk for denial and disillusionment if fear takes over.

Self-help author Dave Pelzer says, “To help yourself, you must be yourself. Be the best that you can be. When you make a mistake, learn from it, pick yourself up and move in.”