Dear readers,

http://resilienthrive.blogspot.com  will be merged with http://resilienceforlife.blogspot.com from 23 September onwards. The new url is more easily remembered and better reflects future posts on the topic.

http://resilienthrive.blogspot.com will be closed after 23 September.


All future "Resilience for Life" blogs will continue through http://resilienceforlife.blogspot.com.
Hope to hear your comments and views soon.


Wishing you resilience and fruitfulness in life,


Samuel Lock

Thriving beyond Adversity

Resilience is the ability to grow and thrive in adversity.

This is not about gritting your teeth and barely scraping through tough times but renewed perspective and a renewed heart honed out of crises, predisposing oneself to higher ground.

People and organisations alike, contend with self imposed limitations based on our comfort zones, thresholds of tolerance and degree of reluctance to change. Crises often leave us with no choice but to adapt and change or face dire consequences and even loss of life. Tremendous energy is released during crisis – by the situation, forces of nature, by efforts of people to make it through and overcome. There is heightened sensitivity, and people often have to face up to reality which they have been avoiding all along.

Growth and Healing

These powerful moments of truth are watersheds to growth. With acceptance of the situation, comes healing which enable muscles to heal and grow stronger, refocused eyes which see further and minds which perceive more. We suddenly realise that we have become grown, and have risen to the occasion, sometimes making unexpected heroes of ourselves in the process.

Opportunities for Japan and Thailand

I believe that the challenges that post March 11 tsunami Japan faces can yet forge a stronger people and build a renewed society. So can the Thais, amidst the faults lines that have emerged in the political landscape. The opportunity to heal and bridge remains despite the political chasm.

Positive Change for Companies

In the company setting, crises present opportunities for positive change. Leaders can ride the powerful waves and momentum of crisis to implement much needed changes. Resistance is likely to be much lower in the process, because people are already shaken out of their comfort zones and in motion rather than inertia. Miss the window and inertia quickly sets in once people adjust to the resumed normality, and the organisation may gradually atrophy because people have not adjusted to the post crisis "new normal".

Imperative for Change and Growth

We can change and grow in crisis. In fact we have to!

Caterpillars resent the tremendous change and discomfort of metamorphosis, failure means death for the caterpillar. Complete the process, and the end result is a butterfly beautiful to behold. Transformed from a once crawling, ugly caterpillar vulnerable to birds and insects of prey, now endowed with graceful flight and a diet of sweet nectar from pretty flowers.