Importance of Resiliency

1) The video explains that becoming resilient takes time and practice. This means that you will become more resilient over time if you always keep trying, even when things are tough. What is one area of your life where you could concentrate on developing resiliency? Why did you select this area? How can resiliency help you?

2) You heard someone in the video say, “I never quit going and never stopped trying to achieve my goals.” What is a goal you have? What can you do to develop resiliency in trying to reach this goal?

3) In the video, listeners learn that “you have to build up a tolerance for resiliency.” Part of building up a tolerance for resiliency means not giving up even in the face of great challenge. What great challenges have you faced and what did you do to overcome them?

4) A speaker in the video compares developing resiliency to playing basketball. Why is it important to practice a skill like resiliency?

5) Another speaker in the video gives this advice: “Don’t give up just because something is hard the first time.” What are some things that might have seemed hard at first but feel easy to you now?

You’re always going to face tough times, whether it’s in school with someone you don’t get along with, or in a job when you have to take on a really hard task. But if you’re emotionally resilient, you can really achieve anything you put your mind to.

Resiliency is the ability to persevere or keep going in the face of great challenge. Resiliency comes from doing the hard thing, from trying something that you thought you couldn’t do and pushing through until you can. You develop resiliency when you actually do put yourself out there and you take the risk. You’re not always going to win at the things that you try to accomplish. But if you don’t try, then you’ll never know. And it’s really exciting to see just how far you can get.

It’s just kind of like basketball or you’re always taking shots and taking shots and learning to get better. And so you have to build up a tolerance for resiliency. And you’ll never outgrow the need for it. You’ll need it now to get through high school. You’ll need it to get through college. You’ll need it to get the job you want. You’ll need it to stay in that job. And you’ll need it as you advance in that job.

A lot of people who are very successful in their career field have been in the career field for 20 years. They didn’t give up. It’s not going to happen in six months. It’s not going to happen in a year. You got to keep going.

I in my own career have had setbacks. But I never quit going and never stopped trying to achieve my goals. And I think it’s really important that we have those resiliency techniques of keeping going even when we’re down.

Don’t give up just because something is hard the first time. It doesn’t mean you’re not smart. It just means that you haven’t learned a certain skill yet and you’re only going to become better if you keep working at it.

The journey of trying, you’re making yourself stronger and more resilient. And ultimately that’s going to help you accomplish things you never thought possible.

Independent Learning Guide: This all-purpose guide can be used by educators, parents, and mentors to jumpstart a lively discussion about the importance of becoming resilient.

Classroom Lesson Plan: This step-by-step lesson plan is available to guide a more in-depth “before, during, and after” learning experience when viewing the “The Importance of Resiliency” video with students. This lesson plan is also suitable for use in after-school programs and other educational settings.

Use Empowerment Activities as a fun way to reinforce the video topic and build community with your students.

• Miniature Maze
• Resilience Catcher

Fun Page Activity: In this “What Would You Do?” activity, you offer advice to others struggling with being or staying resilient. Help them decide how to face their challenges and give advice on the steps they should take.