The Art and Science of Aliveness

The good news is that stress doesn’t have to knock you out. Research shows that some people manage to be resilient to stress; others exhibit what scientists call “hardiness.” an ability to resist the ill effects of stress......Hafen et al, Mind-Body Health, p. 49

The Resiliency Lens

Health psychology has a salutogenic perspective in its approach to helping people. A salutogenic approach to health explores the essential factors that contribute to well-being, maintaining health or the recovery of health. This model contrasts to current medical and psychological approaches that are pathogenic in perspective, that is, looking only at what are the causes of illness and disease.

Over the past three decades health psychology research has identified four major principles that play a role in disease prevention, health recovery and personal well-being. Hafen et al., in their book , Mind -Body Health :The Effects of Attitudes, Emotions and Relationships, presents an extensive review of the research in counselling and health psychology as it relates to stress and stress resiliency. Resiliency is the mother concept that relates to mental and somatic health. The health psychology model provides people with an opportunity to look at life through the “lens of resiliency”.

Resiliency Defined

Resiliency is defined as the capacity to stay well or alleviate the deleterious effects of stress. Resiliency fosters a sense of aliveness that is essential to living fully. In our professional applications of these principles we use the acronym of COME ALIVE. * Each letter of the word COME stands for one of the resiliency principles:

C-stands for connectedness - a strong sense of being connected, socially, and to a deeper sense of self, nature and spirituality.

O-stands for optimism and hope - the capacity to look at events in a way that allows one to see the best possible outcome in a situation.

M-stands for meaning and purpose - the ability to find meaning in life events and have sense of moving in a direction that maximizes the sense of living with a purpose which reflects core values.

E-stands for a sense of empowerment - having the capacity to respond to circumstances in a way that engenders a sense of being effective and in control of responses to challenging life events.

Strengthening Aliveness

In our consultations with individuals, organizations and groups we engage these principles and encourage people to “COME ALIVE”. Most individuals are carrying considerable “emotional baggage” that deadens them and makes them vulnerable to current stressors as it impacts on the accumulated stress throughout their development. As they apply the principles and practices of resiliency their “psychological load” becomes lighter and they feel a renewed sense of living more fully as a person. Through understanding of these principles, both intellectually and experientially, clients are enabled to become a more active and effective agents in their own stress management, disease prevention, health recovery and wellness enhancement. These principles are supported by appropriate mind-body practices that develop resiliency, for example, guided imagery, cognitive restructuring, and relaxation skills.

The ABC’s of Resiliency:

A-stands for the Affect/feelings/sensations that each person has regarding their issues -getting each person in touch with how their challenges manifest on the emotional and somatic level and teaching them effective means of regulating these experiential factors.

B-stands for Behaviors that each person engages in and the strategies to change to more effective and satisfying ways of behaving. These strategies support a more resilient response to their situation, challenge or stressful event.

C- refers to the Cognitive factors effecting the individual’s issue and resiliency response. Cognitive factors, are considered the “rudder of the ship” and influence affect and behavior. Through awareness and skill development, negative cognitions including beliefs, self talk and imagination are addressed and changed.

We believe that individuals and organizations can learn and develop a “language of resiliency” that improves communication. The ‘language of resiliency”supports creating a more proactive psychological perspective that significantly shifts the focus from illness to healthiness.

An integration of these principles supported by mind-body skills creates a synergistic effect that amplifies the capacity of individuals to buffer stressful events and strengthen aliveness and resiliency.

In contrast to other therapeutic/wellness interventions which only focus on one or two of these principles this model is more comprehensive. Therefore, this approach has greater potential to be effective in developing resilient people.

Applications of Resiliency

Currently our consultations focus on four types of intervention.

Individual Therapy:

This application focuses on individual therapy dealing with such issues as depression, anxiety, chronic pain, stress related illness and personal development. A standard protocol of establishing a therapeutic relationship is engaged. Early in the sessions the resiliency model is discussed and then presented formally. A self- evaluation of resiliency is conducted. As sessions progress the client is encouraged to process their issues in terms of the resiliency principles. Each client is given a resiliency journal that helps them develop and strengthen their “language of resilience.” This is supported by therapeutic interventions to help resolve developmental deficits, emotional trauma and interpersonal conflict.

Group Therapy.

In the context of group therapeutic experience, once the guidelines for group functioning are clarified and the process of rapport has been engaged, the principles of resiliency are outlined. Each session combines discussion, spontaneously emerging personal issues and a review of the principles of resiliency. A journal is used to support the learning of the resiliency principles and their application to emerging issues. The combination of therapeutic guidance and a structured model, supports gaining greater insight and skill development in how to manage stress, trauma and personal change. As well, the common language of resiliency helps each person develop a clearer understanding of one another and facilitates interpersonal dialogue.

Organizational/Corporate Health:

In the context of consulting with organizations interested in developing a healthier worksite, again the resiliency model is presented. Corporate and cultural assessments of resiliency are conducted to gain insight into the needs of the organization as well as to a determine a framework for change. Through the knowledge and application of the principles of resiliency and effective practices, healthier individuals and work teams are created.

Health Promotion:

In the area of health promotion the common language of resiliency provides a framework to generate interventions that support a healthy lifestyle. The salutogenic framework minimizes the tendency to see stress from a pathogenic perspective and thereby lessens the threat to participants who realize that stress is a normal and common life event. The resiliency model encourages change from within rather than prescribed change from outside, and as a result people feel a greater sense of ownership in their choices and transformation. The ABC’s of resiliency link principles to practical cognitive-behavioral skills that have a scientifically proven track record for helping people deal with stress and developmental issues. The humanistic underpinning of the resiliency model supports a respectful attitude towards the capacity of individuals and organizations to bring about self directed change.

Resiliency Outcomes:

Outcome measures of resiliency can be determined to assess the improvement in the quality of life for those involved. Resiliency has been established scientifically as an important aspect of stress management, emotional- somatic health and health recovery. The artfulness of applying these principles determines the ultimate usefulness for individuals and organizations. The most resilient individuals are those who emerge with a strong will to live, a fighting spirit and have the capacity to combat stress. Ultimately, the application of the resiliency principles and practices result in individuals, groups and organizations having more alivness and vitality to deal with stress, challenge and growth. They are able to apply their inner resources to creative solutions that enable them to COME ALIVE -in the fullest meaning of life.

The world breaks everyone, and, afterward many are strong at the broken places. Ernest Hemingway....Farewell to Arms.

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* This article was published in Heartbeat , a journal for nursing professionals.