As I read my emails, listen to the radio and watch television, I’m inundated with messages about the public mental health crisis during this global pandemic that will worsen during the winter months. The prediction is doom and gloom. Many experts are offering courses, blog posts, and online events to help us cope during these challenging times. I believe it’s important to learn strategies to enhance our coping abilities. We can all benefit from them. However, it’s equally important to realize that most of us are coping the best we can during this tumultuous period. And we’re doing this because human beings are resilient. It’s built into our DNA. Just look at how we’ve survived throughout history without becoming extinct as a species.

I find that much of the focus is on our psychological, physical, and social maladaptation without acknowledging the strengths we’ve developed through our lived experiences. I don’t know of anyone who hasn’t survived a crisis or dealt with a challenging situation. It’s part of our human experience. I rarely hear about the coping strategies people use and the creative ways in which they continue to live meaningful lives, despite the chaos around them. The failure to do this is a disservice to everyone. 

This doesn’t mean I turn a blind eye to the suffering around me. I realize that people are experiencing anxiety and depression, have lost economic and personal security, and are grieving the death of loved ones and the way of life they knew. To deny that these realities exist is to deny the chaos of these uncertain times. However, to focus on these pathological aspects and losses causes generalizations that do not acknowledge our adaptive coping abilities and resilience. My work with Holocaust survivors has taught me that every person has strengths – positive attributes, knowledge, and skills – that co-exist with their vulnerabilities. 

So here’s the thing. There will always be situations that challenge and overwhelm us. I’m reminding you that each of us is resilient and has amassed valuable coping skills and strategies to help us deal with them. The key is to become aware of them, name them, and apply them to any situation. These skills are transferable. Challenges are like building blocks. Each time we take our power and tackle them, it becomes easier to take on a bigger challenge. In so doing, we stretch ourselves beyond our limits to be the best we can be.

The following exercise helps me to realize my coping skills and accomplishments. Perhaps it can help you too. Here are some questions I ask myself:

• What are some of the successful things I’ve accomplished in my life? 
• What accomplishments am I most proud of? 
• What are my strengths? 
• What skills have helped me to cope with life’s challenges? 
• What has worked well for me in the past? 
• What activities give me a sense of satisfaction, accomplishment, and fulfillment? 
• What are my special talents? 

Write down each of these questions and list your answers below them. It will remind you of the strength inside you by tapping into a wide range of capabilities that have enabled you to take on life’s challenges.  This I know for sure!