Emotional Resilience means to be able to spring back emotionally after dealing with an adversity. There are certain qualities that emotional resilient people have to help them keep this strength.
I have taken my experience of my long term injury as one of my biggest adversities in life and related it to these qualities, realising that through this experience I have learnt to become more resilient.
Set realistic Goals
Generally, there was a gradual positive development with my recovery, but it was quite a roller caster experience Reflecting back, the main reason why it ended up taking 7 months was because I was unaware of how serious the injury was. I was setting unrealistic goals, wanting to audition 6 weeks after my diagnosed fracture (late-diagnoses). Thinking I was being pressured by others to get back quick, the pressure was actually all from me. Although listening to instructions there was not official date/time of the healing process in combination with various opinions, a rare injury and the daunting knowledge of not dancing. This really confused me into one scrambled mess of thoughts and emotions. Therefore I wasn’t fully focusing on what was REALLY best on how to heal, jumping too far ahead, skipping stages needed in the resting and healing process. For e.g.- was told I was able to walk but was in a strap, but had to take it easy. To a dancer, in general, taking it easy means not dancing. However resting fully sends the right messages to the body to heal.
Looking back, maybe it is also because I didn’t know anything else what was better, how I needed to heal. I had guidance, and the best I could attain, perhaps sometime the right information and approach known later on. I learnt more through the experience of it all… by the end, I realized how important it is for us dancers to look after our body as it is our instrument for our career. Feet are our tools. In learning this, I was able to stay strong while having to ask for permission as a brand new member with the company in Cape Town, to stop half way through the season. I had to take it easy, even though I was stepping in for another role, which accounted for a possibility to stay onwards with the company. I feel I gained more emotional strength, became smarter with my choices, thus learning the importance of setting realistic goals.
Generally, there was a gradual positive development with my recovery, but it was quite a roller caster experience Reflecting back, the main reason why it ended up taking 7 months was because I was unaware of how serious the injury was. I was setting unrealistic goals, wanting to audition 6 weeks after my diagnosed fracture (late-diagnoses). Thinking I was being pressured by others to get back quick, the pressure was actually all from me. Although listening to instructions there was not official date/time of the healing process in combination with various opinions, a rare injury and the daunting knowledge of not dancing. This really confused me into one scrambled mess of thoughts and emotions. Therefore I wasn’t fully focusing on what was REALLY best on how to heal, jumping too far ahead, skipping stages needed in the resting and healing process. For e.g.- was told I was able to walk but was in a strap, but had to take it easy. To a dancer, in general, taking it easy means not dancing. However resting fully sends the right messages to the body to heal.
Looking back, maybe it is also because I didn’t know anything else what was better, how I needed to heal. I had guidance, and the best I could attain, perhaps sometime the right information and approach known later on. I learnt more through the experience of it all… by the end, I realized how important it is for us dancers to look after our body as it is our instrument for our career. Feet are our tools. In learning this, I was able to stay strong while having to ask for permission as a brand new member with the company in Cape Town, to stop half way through the season. I had to take it easy, even though I was stepping in for another role, which accounted for a possibility to stay onwards with the company. I feel I gained more emotional strength, became smarter with my choices, thus learning the importance of setting realistic goals.
*One article I read ‘ now is not forever’ helped set this frame
of mind where
*“The opportunity to get it right in the build-up phase is advantageous than getting it wrong when it matters!”
*“The opportunity to get it right in the build-up phase is advantageous than getting it wrong when it matters!”
