All About Resilience!

by Daniel Jacob, MSW: Founder of Can You Hear Me?

All About Resilience! It is fair to say that as helping professionals we are in a great position to be that agent of change, helping others move in directions that they often view as impossible to achieve.  We all have our uniquely different approach that is influenced by such common sources as education, training and experience... What I want to speak to today is how resilience, with its many influences can shape and develop our abilities to become that source of hope.  When I look at my own practice, the story that I have lived and continue to add to, I know that resilience has been such a strong influence and motivating force.  The way I look at it, resilience is the ability to handle adverse situations with persistence and hope; wisdom, character, and strength often emerge in the process.  Therefore, how can this influence not impact our ability to reach others, it's all about resilience!

As many of us (helping professionals) know, often we are trained to keep self-disclosure to a minimum, as it's all about the client and their needs, not so much about our own story.  With that being said our actions, availability, presence and wellness are as much a part of our resilient being as the story that we hold close to our hearts.  Therefore, we as helping professionals can utilize the traits of wisdom gained from our own critical life experiences in order to add to our ability to help others help themselves.  The insight that we are given through resilience allows for the courage to recognize the suffering of the heart, and our own story (and experience) can be the catalyst of this process.  It's all about resilience, and we are afforded the opportunity to model it on an often basis as long as there is availability to connect with it, a belief in it, and the intention to deliver it!

As I write, I reflect on the ever present challenges (in life and practice) that I see as amazing opportunities to learn from that only add (not subtract) to our personal self and professional practice.  When you are able to look at obstacles not as problems, but as a resource towards a solution, than your mindset is all about resilience.  Our role in this profession can always be impacted by various influences that we can not control.  We can either let it define us, or we can embrace these setbacks as guides, not brakes.  If you can allow yourself to see the significance that your own resilience can play on those you strive to reach, then you will empower.  If you can allow yourself to embrace the importance that resilience can play on your self-care and well-being, then you will empower.  I'm the doorman here, I'm holding it open for you and if you are available to see it, there is something inside waiting for you.

My hope this week is that my words have reached you in a manner that can empower, support and instruct.  I can say wholeheartedly that this week's post was influenced by my own recent challenge, one that brought me some disappointment.  It would of have been real easy to succumb to the negative influences that were ready and available to take hold of.  However, I practice what I speak to and choose to be in the arena.  I fully understand that it is part of the process that I trust, it's all about resilience!  May this find you breathing well out there, don't lose sight of what you have the capability of achieving...




About Author

Daniel Jacob, MSW Email
Founder of Can You Hear Me? External Field Instructor at University of Southern California School of Social Work MSW@USC. Daniel has a Masters in Social Work (Families and Children Practice/School Social Work). He is currently nearing the completion of the LCSW testing process.
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