This document discusses developing resilience. It begins with an introduction of the author and his credentials. It then discusses what resilience is and provides a basic model of resilience. Six key features of resilience are outlined, including shifting one's perspective, taking action rather than waiting, connecting with others, moving on from past hardships, developing future goals and visions, and identifying new feelings and emotions. Ten actions for building resilience are also provided, such as actively searching for role models, setting goals, embracing change, helping others, being hopeful, visualizing desired outcomes, self-care, learning from experiences, and finding humor.

1. DEVELOPING
RESILIENCE
STEPHEN MURGATROYD, PHD

2. WHO AM I?
2
Counselling Psychologist and Practitioner
Academic and Writer on Counselling
Researcher
Trainer of Counselling Psychologists
Teacher

3. BE CLEAR:
NOT HERE TO
PROMOTE NEW
BOOK▸ Available as a paperback at
lulu.com and as a e-book at
amazon.ca
▸ Co-authored with Sarajane Aris - an
experienced clinical psychologists
and researcher.
▸ Covers a range of topics linked to
today’s presentation..
3

4. WHAT IS
RESILIENCE?
PART 1
4

5. WHEN YOU
DECIDE TO
GIVE UP ON
RESILIENCE IS..
5

6. THE BASIC MODEL OF RESILIENCE 6

7. WE CAN RECOVER TOO…
BEFORE AND AFTER A FOREST FIRE
7

8. KUBLER-ROSS ADAPTING TO LOSS / CHANGE MODEL 8

9. BIG IDEAS
SIX FEATURES OF RESILIENCE 1
▸A change in the way you think about yourself:
▸No longer “a victim” or “an and also..” but someone who
can make a difference in their own lives.
▸Shift from lethargy to action - from waiting to acting (“no
one else is coming..” - Margaret Whatley)
▸Actively seeks to connect with others rather than to
disconnect.
9

10. BIG IDEAS
SIX FEATURES….2
▸Actively seeks to move on, not linger..
▸Acknowledges, celebrates and recognizes past (in all of its
aspects)
▸Develops a vision or strong intentions for the future and
begins to act on these intentions
▸Identifies current feelings / emotions / thoughts and begins
to identify what the new feelings / emotions /thoughts
need to be
10

11. “TO BE RESILIENT WE DON’T GO
BACK IN TIME. WHAT HAPPENED
TO US BECOMES PART OF US.
RESILIENT PEOPLE DO NOT
BOUNCE BACK FROM HARD TIMES
- THEY FIND HEALTH WAYS TO
INTEGRATE THEM INTO THEIR
LIVES..”
Eric Greitens, Navy Seal
THINK ABOUT THIS QUOTATION….

12. BIG IDEA
SIX FEATURES…3
▸Resilience follows doing, not thinking or deciding..
▸Deciding is not doing
▸Thinking and reflecting is doing
▸Acting on decisions and thoughts is doing..
▸Doing creates the opportunities to build adaptive
capacities and resilience..

13. BIG IDEAS
SIX FEATURES… 4
▸We can find role models for resilience and adaptability
and learn from them..
▸In your circle of friends and in the wider community there
are people who have overcome tragedy, loss and
disruption…find them..
▸Learn about them, understand what they did to develop
resilience..
▸Emulate them…

14. BIG IDEAS
SIX FEATURES….5
▸Rarely do we change alone - connect!
▸Resilient individuals will generally have a person they are
connected to whom they look up to and respect as a role model
and mentor / coach. Best do this before you need to…
▸Resilient people are not afraid to unburden with this person - to
cry, laugh, wonder out loud..
▸Resilient people gain strength from confronting their situation
with others…

15. BIG IDEAS
SIX FEATURES….6
▸Do good for others - compassionate action helps heal
the self..
▸Getting out and doing good and connecting with others
less fortunate than yourself..

17. 10 ACTIONS TO
BUILD RESILIENCE
HERE IS WHAT YOU CAN DO..

18. ACTIVELY
SEARCH
ACTION 1
18

19. SET
GOALS
ACTION 2
19

20. EMBRACE
CHANGE AS A
NORMAL PART
OF LIFE AND
ACTION 3
20

21. LOOK FOR
OPPORTUNITIES
TO EXPLORE
ACTION 4
21

22. HELP
OTHERS
ACTION 5
22

23. START BEING
HOPEFUL
ABOUT
ACTION 6
23

24. VISUALIZE
WHAT YOU
WANT - NO
ACTION 7
24

25. TAKE
CARE OF
ACTION 8
25

26. LIVE TO
LEARN
ACTION 9
26

27. FIND LIFE
FUN -
LAUGHTER
ACTION 10
27

28. CLOSING THOUGHT..