The word of the week is resilience. Globally, nationally and personally, our collective resilience has never before so firmly held the keys for hope to an optimistic future. Right now, for many, it would be easier to give into despair and declare, “well at least we tried”. 

Second waves, lockdowns, increased mental strain, poor economic outlooks - it’s all there if you want to read about it. And focus on it. 

Resilience can be defined as the process of adapting to adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or significant sources of stress. 21st century western resilience is being called into question. Are we demonstrating resilience, do we really posses it, when we compare ourselves to a previous generation that experienced two world wars and a depression? In some cases we are spitting the dummy and chucking a tantrum, just like the toddler who has been denied what they want.

In start-up land, without resilience, you wouldn't make it half way to first base. The expectation of smooth sailing and overnight success is way beyond myth. Yet it could be said that we are in the start-up phase of whatever comes next considering we have never before been where we are now. We are creating the new, discovering new facts, creating new technologies and making new connections every single day. At an ever accelerating rate.

Do we posses the resilience to keep momentum, keep progressing, keep our hearts united and our minds sharp, our conscience clear and our ethics in tact? Do we posses the resilience to respect opinions that differ and abide by decisions we may not agree with? 

It's time to go deep. Find our inner resilience. Seek a survival mode that requires adaptation, collaboration and unity.

Dig your toes in the sand, walk that mountain, have coffee with a neighbour, bake a cake - whatever gives you quiet, inner pleasure. Instead of chasing an email or a client, chase serenity. And in that inner serenity, find the inner resilience we each now require to create a collective and hopeful future. 

Photo: Yamba Breakwall. Photographed by Christina Gerakiteys