Resilience is a superpower that’s easy to overlook. It’s the ability to bounce back when you’re dealing with adversity, adapt to changing situations, and keep going in the face of hardship. As a teen, life will throw you many curveballs. Whether it’s a failing grade, friendship drama, or family problems, challenges are inevitable. That’s where resilience comes in — it gives you the ability to stay strong and persevere through tough times.
Goal-directing strategies, which are specific techniques to help you achieve your goals, can be a big help in increasing your resilience so you can deal with anything that comes your way. Check out this blog from the experts at Ascend to learn more about resilience, coping mechanisms, and setting goals for adolescents.
What Is Resilience?
What exactly is resilience? In simple words, it’s your ability to cope with and rise above difficult situations. Life as a teen can sometimes feel like a rollercoaster ride with tons of ups and downs — grades might dip, friendships can get complicated, and family issues might feel overwhelming. And that’s exactly where resilience comes to the rescue. It’s your innate power to navigate through these tough times without losing your spirit.
What’s even better is that resilience is not just a natural talent — everyone can build it. With some specific goal-directing strategies you can follow to increase your resilience, you have a roadmap to guide you toward your goals while boosting your ability to bounce back from setbacks.
5 Goal-Directing Strategies You Can Try to Increase Resilience
Increasing resilience is possible — just try these strategies:
- Visualize success – Start by imagining what success looks like for you. Visualization is a powerful tool that can help motivate you to reach your goals. When you visualize success, you’re more likely to think positively, boost your confidence, and overcome obstacles.
- Embrace failure – No one likes to fail, but it’s a crucial part of growth. Think of failure not as an end but as an opportunity to learn and improve. By embracing failure, you’re building resilience and preparing yourself to come back from future setbacks.
- Self-care – Self-care isn’t just about bubble baths and face masks — it’s also about taking care of your mental and emotional health. Eating a healthy diet, getting enough sleep, and participating in activities you enjoy all contribute to resilience, helping you manage stress and stay balanced.
- Set SMART goals – SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. These goal traits can guide you toward success. They provide a clear and realistic roadmap to follow, helping you stay focused and increasing your resilience.
- Reach out for support – Even the most resilient individuals need help sometimes. Don’t be afraid to reach out to a trusted adult, whether it’s a family member, teacher, or counselor. Remember, asking for help is not a sign of weakness — it’s a sign of strength.
Try these goal-directing strategies, and remember resilience isn’t about never falling down; it’s about always getting back up. No matter what challenges you face, you’re capable of overcoming them. Believe in yourself, stay strong, and keep moving forward.
Call Ascend Today for Teen Mental Health Treatment
Setting goals for adolescents can be challenging, especially when facing mental health difficulties. That’s where Ascend can help. Our team of professionals is dedicated to helping teens increase their resilience through goal-directing strategies and other clinical techniques for a healthier, happier life. With a wide range of therapies and personalized treatment plans, we’re here to support you every step of the way.
Call 310.388.3713 or reach out to us online to get started on your journey towards resilience and overall well-being.
