What resilience means, by ODE Co-Founder Gordian Overschmidt.

Resilience means bringing these seven pillars into a suitable balance. The first factor here is optimism. Those affected must understand that crises, no matter how bad they seem, are usually temporary.

Resilience factors include optimism, acceptance, a focus on the solution, leaving the victim role, taking responsibility for one’s own life, building new networks, and planning and redesigning the future.

Optimism

This also means that they learn that something good can still emerge from a crisis in the future. Resilient people use their optimism in a very targeted way to use their own resources effectively and precisely.

Acceptance

The second of the resilience factors is the acceptance of the crisis. Only when the crisis is recognized and accepted can it be addressed. Acceptance is, therefore, the preliminary stage to overcoming the crisis.

Orientation towards the solution

Now the next step is to look for a solution. The solution orientation depends to no small extent on the personal attitude. What is essential is what expectations those affected have of their future and what their further goals are.

Leaving the victim role

The advantage that resilient people have is the fact that they do not focus their attention only on other people and circumstances, but first and foremost on themselves. They do not see themselves as victims, but actively deal with existing situations and try to change them in their favor. People with low self-esteem and self-confidence often have to learn this again.

Taking responsibility for their own life

The next pillar is to retake responsibility for your own life. Of course, this also means taking responsibility for the consequences of your actions. The sixth pillar, the stable network, is helpful here.

Building new networks

It is noticeable that, in most cases, resilient people have an extensive social network. They always have someone who listens to them and helps them to find a solution to the most diverse problems.

Planning and shaping the future

With newly awakened enthusiasm, it should then also be possible to plan the future anew. This presupposes, however, that those affected realize that they always have a choice. There are still different options. If the future is planned according to one’s own possibilities, it remains controllable and major crises can, in most cases, be managed on one’s own.

Resilience is a holistic development concept that enables people to assert themselves and assert themselves in their private and social environment. All seven pillars are equally crucial for balanced development and often need to be trained in an active learning process. Nobody claims that this learning process is easy, but it is definitely worthwhile for all those who want to lead a self-determined active life.

That does sound like ODE!