To care or
not to care…
“Don’t
sweat the small stuff” – Sometimes it is best not to care about things that are
not of value or importance. However, caring about things that DO matter can
have a very powerful influence on each one of us. This may remind people of the
well-known concept of “the wisdom to know the difference…” [differentiating between
what we need to simply accept as is and what we can try to change] – Having the
wisdom to care about positive and important things can be a force for sustaining
progress while letting go of the less valuable things is also a huge help.
An
important subject that keeps coming up when it comes to making positive
progress in life is resilience, which means to “bounce back”,
particularly after a trial or other adverse event. Resilient people may
temporarily slow down when tragedy strikes, but ultimately, they keep on going
even if they have to alter their course. Knowing and understanding when to
care and when no to care can be a huge factor that leads to resilience.
How does
this work?
Ø What
exactly does it mean to care? – Definition below:
Care: regard coming from desire or esteem a care for the
common good - to be concerned or solicitous; have thought or regard.
To feel concern about:
He doesn't care what others say.
Concern - to relate to; be connected with; be
of interest or importance to; affect:
We become
connected with what we care about – We disconnect with what we do not care about
Caring leads to concern
which leads to connection
Caring and Connection–There is a direct link between caring and
connection as these two ideas work hand in hand. Therefore, if an individual
wants to increase their level of resilience, then deepening connections can be
essential to this process.
The
next step
– Connection can
increase resilience
Climber
illustration: To think about how connection increases resilience, consider each
connection you have in life to be like a rope keeping you from falling when you
are climbing upward. The more responsibilities that you have to carry in life,
the harder it can be to hold on. However, the more “ropes” of connection that
you have that help lead you to your goals, the greater the chance that you can
continue your climb without falling backward
What are
some types of connections that can increase resilience?
Purpose –Believing
in and establishing a real connection someone/something greater than you.
Connection with a greater meaning than typical day to day events
Spiritual –
Connection with something greater than you or a strong belief system or faith
Career –
Connection with meaningful employment that helps you feel like you are part of
something
Community – Being
part of your neighborhood where you feel valued and you can make a contribution
Education/Self
Improvement – Connecting with a passion for learning and growing
Hobbies - Making a
meaningful connection with an activity that inspires you
Group – Knowing
that a group of people will ask about you if you were not around and feeling
like you belong
Personal (Friends
and family) – Connecting on a deeper level, honestly and openly with others
who know you, share memories with you, and care about you in return
Animals – Even a
strong connection with a pet can increase one’s resilience. For example, there
are people out there whose love for their dog can even be the difference maker in
their lives
Nature – Some people
are able to make a meaningful connection with their environment that can be both
calming and strengthening at the same time
Addiction
can overpower these things as addiction often breaks down meaningful
connections.
Ø As a group,
consider how this happens? – What are some examples?
However, when
the substance is out of the way, these caring connections can sustain you.
Connections build resilience and it often is your
connections that sustain you
when things are tough.
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