Aging Well: Resilience
Cathy Graham • October 18, 2021
How do some people manage to bounce back from adversity and misfortune, while others in the same situation dive into a downward spiral? When devastation strikes swiftly and uproots lives, what makes some people rise up while others crumble and fall? The answer is resilience.
Psychological resilience is described as the ability to cope with a crisis mentally or emotionally or to return to pre-crisis status quickly, even in the throes of darkness. Resilience isn’t happenstance; it is a learned behavior. People void of resilience choose to be powerless and victimized. The sludge of negativity weighs them down until they become immobile, then matters get worse, just as they expected. We become more resilient with practice. Bouncing back quickly from disappointments, changes or failure increases our resiliency stamina.
Additional ways to build resiliency include giving grace instead of giving in to stress. By getting in step with all the right things in the world, you can learn to navigate the unexpected. Thinking patterns trigger emotional patterns. You can change emotional patterns by curtailing negative thinking; you do that by soaking up positive vibes.
Resilient people know how to live with appreciation and gratitude, and they have well-defined social connections. They know they create their own responses in life. They move their bodies, get fresh air and relate well to nature. They sleep soundly knowing that the body, mind and spirit need rest. They are mindful of how they feel in the moment and adapt to being positive quickly.
You choose to be happy, alone, loved, burdened or fearful. It’s as simple and as complicated as that.
Cathy Graham
is director of Graceful Aging Wellness Center of Bethlen Communities, Ligonier, Pennsylvania, and a District 3000–HRFA member.
As we move into the second quarter of another exciting year, I want to take a moment to reflect on our accomplishments and share some of the new initiatives we are implementing in the realms of sales, marketing and community engagement. Over the past year, GBU Life has reached significant milestones thanks to the dedication and hard work of our team and the trust and support of our members. Our sales department has exceeded targets, and we have expanded our reach to more communities than ever before. We have launched several successful marketing campaigns that have not only increased our visibility but have also strengthened our brand's presence in the industry. For this year, our focus will be educating potential new members on the importance of securing their financial futures through life insurance and annuity products while serving their communities as part of our great Society. Looking ahead, we are committed to enhancing our sales strategies to better serve you. We are introducing some tools for our agents to enhance our products. One new tool is our Defined Benefit Annuity program which combines the Future Flex Fixed Index Annuity (FIA) with a software tool that can help determine retirement savings needs and break them down into contributions over time to help you meet your retirement goals. Be sure to keep in touch with your GBU agent to review your plans and products to see how adding an FIA to your retirement planning can help boost your savings efforts
GBU has designated four Community Pillars - Wellness, Education, Charitable Giving and Hometown Hero Support - which are a concentrated list of causes that resonate with our values.
Looking for new spots to explore this winter? Check out these three must-visit places for your next adventure.
Details and deadlines surrounding the GBU Foundation scholarship and grants for 2025.
Looking to try some new recipes this winter?
We've found some tips to keep up your sleeve this winter.
The Defined Benefit Annuity from GBU Life can help you to create a plan for a guaranteed income in retirement by making regular contributions based on your retirement income targets.
Graduating from college is an exciting milestone, but it’s also the perfect time to focus on your financial future. Building on the foundation you’ve already laid the groundwork for with smart money choices will set you up for long-term success. Here are a few key financial products to consider as you take the next step.
Kick-start your child’s journey to financial success with a whole life policy from GBU Life.
How well do you know the characters from the hit TV series The Office? Watch your reruns and get ready to test your skills in our winter trivia contest!