Tip #17 - Living with purpose - Dr Renate Scherrer

In the engineering world, resilience refers to the ability of an object, or structure, to spring back into shape after it was exposed to a severe force or pressure. Other terms associated with resilience are elasticity, flexibility, pliability, plasticity, and adaptability. In human terms, resilience refers to the ability of a person to recover from setbacks, adapt well to change, and keep going even when facing difficult circumstances. In order to survive in uncertain and difficult times, resilience is probably one of the most important skills for anyone to possess.

When we are going through very tough times, finding purpose and meaning in our existence is one of the most powerful ways to build resilience. It means that we can endure the pain or uncertainty of daily life because we are focusing on what is beyond that, what is waiting for us on the other side. Like a ship on route to its destination, we are able to do what is required at the moment on the journey in order to get to where we are going, because we are able to see beyond the current.

Trying out a new skill helps us learn how to fail. Being a keen follower of MasterChef Australia, I have recently tried to make panna cotta. It was an inedible disaster. But you know what, the failed attempt has invited me to try out some other desserts, which looked and tasted much better. I have built some new pathways in my brain, I’m a little bit more motivated when it comes to cooking and baking – very much to the surprise of my family - and above all, I keep on learning.

Adaptability is such an important and essential survival mechanism. Charles Darwin said: “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.” The fact is that most human beings will not choose to change if they have a choice. But when we are forced to or if the pain of not changing outweighs the pain of staying the same, then we find ourselves adapting and looking back afterwards with surprise at what we have gained.

Most of us think that creativity is reserved only for talented artists, but according to Elizabeth Gilbert, author of many popular books, if you are alive, you are a creative person.

As Martin Luther King said: “If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.”

Stress and anxiety, when left unchecked, can destroy your career, health, and relationships – exactly those things that can help us get through tough times. So, how can we prevent these harmful outcomes?

Everyone wants to be happy, but happiness is not just one thing. In this episode, Dr Jopie de Beer looks at three types of happiness and how you can enhance each type in your life.

Research evidence has shown that optimism creates physical and mental resilience for people, even those who have been through extremely difficult life events or medical situations.

When we open our eyes to really SEE what and who we have around us, it is quite a revelation to realise how much we have to be thankful for.