Dr Arun Prakash
History of mankind is full of rags-to-riches stories. From Ambani to Physicswallah, there are scores of examples where people with ordinary beginnings created something extraordinary, something unimaginable. What sets these individuals apart? Is it luck, divine favour, or being in the right place at the right time? While various theories attempt to explain their success, one common factor unites them all: resilience.
Before we delve into what resilience means and how to nurture it in children, let’s consider a few examples from the world of renowned individuals who faced adversity on their path to success.
Amitabh Bachchan: The Legend with Resilience
Amitabh Bachchan, the “Shahenshah” of Bollywood, is celebrated for his acting prowess, voice, and charisma. However, his journey to stardom was far from smooth. Amitabh faced criticism for his voice and appearance and encountered multiple rejections before tasting success. His “Angry Young Man” image changed the game, but it didn’t come without its share of rejections.
Even at the pinnacle of his career, Amitabh experienced a phase of failures. His business venture, ABCL, failed miserably, films flopped, and debts piled up. However, his resilience made all the difference. He bounced back with the TV quiz show “Kaun Banega Crorepati” and the movie “Mohabbatein.” As they say, the rest is history.
The journey to success is never a straight line. It’s marked by failures, pitfalls, setbacks, and rejections. What distinguishes successful individuals is their unwavering determination and resilience to overcome these obstacles.
Understanding Resilience
Resilience is the ability to adapt and bounce back from adversity, stress, or challenging situations. It’s the capacity to recover, learn, and grow from difficult experiences. The most crucial aspect of resilience is that it’s not a fixed trait; rather, it’s a dynamic quality that can be developed and strengthened over time.
Someone wisely said that success is directly proportional to one’s ability to withstand stress and adversity. How much you can endure often determines the degree of your success.
Sir Ken Robinson’s Perspective
The late Sir Ken Robinson believed that our educational systems often stigmatize mistakes and failures, discouraging students from taking risks, trying new things, and being creative. In reality, it’s through failures that we gain valuable insights, learn what doesn’t work, and ultimately grow.
Building Resilience in Children
Developing resilience in children is crucial for their emotional and psychological well-being. Resilience helps children cope with challenges, setbacks, and adversity, laying the foundation for their future success. Here are practical strategies to help children develop resilience:
1. Promote a Growth Mindset
Encourage children to view challenges as opportunities to learn and grow. Emphasize that intelligence and abilities can be developed through effort and perseverance. Encourage them to embrace challenges and not fear failure.
2. Foster Positive Relationships
Strong, supportive relationships with parents, caregivers, teachers, and peers are essential for resilience. These relationships provide a safety net and emotional support during tough times.
3. Teach Problem-Solving Skills
Help children develop problem-solving and decision-making skills. Teach them how to break problems into smaller, manageable parts and guide them in finding solutions. This empowerment enables them to tackle challenges more effectively.
4. Encourage Emotional Expression
Teach children to recognize and express their emotions. Help them articulate how they feel and validate their emotions.
5. Set Realistic Expectations
Ensure that expectations are developmentally appropriate, reducing unnecessary pressure and stress.
6. Promote Independence
Encourage children to take on age-appropriate responsibilities, fostering their sense of autonomy and self-reliance.
7. Exposure to Controlled Risk
Allow children to take calculated risks, which can help them build confidence and learn about consequences.
8. Teach Coping Strategies
Help children develop healthy coping strategies, such as relaxation techniques, mindfulness, or creative outlets. These tools can be invaluable for managing stress and adversity.
9. Narrate Personal Stories of Resilience
Share stories of your own challenges, failures, and how you overcame them. Hearing about others’ experiences can be inspiring and reassure children that setbacks are a normal part of life.
10. Encourage Perseverance
Emphasize the value of persistence and not giving up in the face of difficulties.
Building resilience in children is a gift that keeps on giving. It equips them to face life’s challenges with courage, adaptability, and determination. Resilience is a skill that will serve them well throughout their lives, allowing them to turn setbacks into stepping stones on their path to success. So, as parents and educators, let’s take the lessons from legends like Amitabh Bachchan and instil the power of resilience in the hearts and minds of our children, ensuring they have the strength to overcome any obstacle that comes their way.
