A new model has been proposed to explain how our exposure to stressors improves our own resiliency, or ability to bounce back from stress. This model is called the self-reflection model of resilience (Crane, Searle, Kangas, & Nwiran, 2018). This model suggests that our own exposure to stressors and trauma can improve our resilience to stressors in the future (Crane et al., 2018). Why is this? First, exposure to a stressors can cause individuals to self-reflect on the stressors they are experiencing along with accompanying stress (Crane et al., 2018). Self-reflection has been found to “…facilitate the capacity to evaluate task-oriented coping and problem-solving strategies” (Crane et al., 2018, p. 2-3). Additionally, self-reflection promotes reflection on thoughts, feelings, and behaviors (Crane et al., 2018). Second, stressors and life challenges can produce increased sensitivity to stressors in the future and improve our coping mechanisms (Crane et al., 2018).
If you would like to learn more about improving your own self-reflection and resilience capacity, give Mountainview Counseling a call!
References
Crane, M. F., Searle, B. J., Kangas, M., & Nwiran, Y. (2018). How resilience is strengthened by exposure to stressors: The systematic self-reflection model of resilience strengthening. Anxiety, Stress, & Coping, 32, 1-17.doi: 10.1080/10615806.2018.1506640