Think of a great contemporary tennis player. Think of a winner. The name of Serena Williams probably comes to mind. With an incredible record that goes from 23 Grand Slam individual titles, where in 7 of them she faced her older sister, Venus, in the final, and with her another 14 won in doubles with Venus. In addition to being the biggest Grand Slam winner in the history (including the men’s competitions), Serena Williams holds the record for the most weeks being number 1 in the WTA ranking, for 319 weeks. She has 75 individual titles and 23 doubles, including the ones already mentioned with her older sister and the gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics. What a successful professional!
However, over the years, Serena has had to deal with injuries, setbacks, and difficult times in her personal life. In 2011, she was diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism, a serious medical condition that threatened her career and life. However, she managed to recover and return to tennis with great determination and strength.
In addition, Serena has faced defeats and moments of adversity on the courts. Despite this, she has shown an incredible ability to overcome defeat, learn from it, and move on. Even after suffering painful defeats in major finals, she has come back with determination and has managed to achieve new achievements.
Serena Williams’ resilience is highlighted not only by her ability to overcome obstacles and difficulties, but also by her positive attitude and unwavering determination. Through his example, he inspires other athletes and people in general to never give up, to persevere and to find strength in the midst of adversity.
Resilience is defined as the ability of a person or a system to positively face, adapt and recover from adverse situations, trauma, change or stress. It is the ability to maintain healthy and balanced functioning despite pressure or challenging circumstances. Resilience involves the ability to learn from difficult experiences and use those learnings to grow and develop personally, emotionally, and psychologically. It also involves the ability to maintain a positive attitude, seek creative solutions, and maintain an optimistic outlook despite difficulties. Resilience does not imply being invulnerable to problems, but rather the ability to face and overcome them with strength and flexibility.
In the current context it is especially important to learn to be resilient. We live in a world that is constantly changing and we face numerous challenges on a personal, societal and global level. The COVID-19 pandemic was a clear example of how an unexpected situation can cause stress, uncertainty and difficulties for many people.
Being resilient helps us deal with these challenges more effectively. Resilience allows us to adapt to changing circumstances, remain calm in stressful situations, and find creative solutions to problems. It helps us recover faster from adversity, maintain a positive attitude, and find meaning and purpose in difficult times.
Furthermore, resilience not only benefits at the individual level, but also has a positive impact on our relationships and on society in general. When we are resilient, we can offer support to those around us, inspire others, and contribute to building stronger, more cohesive communities.
Therefore, learning to be resilient has become essential in today’s world. It is a skill that we can develop and strengthen throughout our lives, and that will help us face present and future challenges with a greater capacity for adaptation and well-being.
Do not judge me by my success, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again ― Nelson Mandela
Building resilience as an individual is a process that involves taking conscious steps to strengthen our ability to cope with adversity. Here are some ways you can work on building resilience:
Foster a positive attitude: How we view the situations in life can determine our ability to persevere. Try to stay optimistic and focus on solutions instead of getting caught up in problems. Practice gratitude and look for positive aspects in every situation.
2. Encourage self-care: Taking care of yourself is crucial to building resilience. Make sure you have a healthy lifestyle that includes a good diet, regular exercise, adequate rest, and time for activities that give you satisfaction and well-being. Also, practice relaxation techniques like meditation, deep breathing, or yoga to reduce stress.
3. Build a support network: Having a strong support system can make a world of difference in difficult times. Cultivate close and meaningful relationships with family, friends, and people you trust. Share your concerns and seek their emotional and practical support when you need it.
4. Learn to adapt: Resilience implies being flexible and adapting to change. Accept that change is a part of life and look for opportunities to learn and grow through it. Learn to adjust your plans and goals based on changing circumstances and keep an open mind to new possibilities.
5. Set realistic goals: Having realistic and achievable goals will help you stay motivated and directed through difficult times. Set short- and long-term goals that are challenging but achievable, and celebrate your accomplishments as you reach them.
6. Practice problem solving: Develop skills to solve problems and make effective decisions. Focus on finding practical and creative solutions when faced with challenges. Seek different perspectives and consider different options before making important decisions.
Remember that resilience does not develop overnight, it is an ongoing process. As you face challenges and recover from them, you will build your resilience and increase your ability to cope with difficult situations in the future.
Here’s the famous “Fall Forward” Penn Commencement Address given on Monday, May 16, 2011, by Denzel Washington about “Falling Forward:
Lastly, if you haven’t, you should consider watching King Richard, the movie. It’s more about her father and about Serena and Venus childhood.