Emotion: Resilience

When you want to write the emotion resilience, it's important to "show" the emotion your character is experiencing through their physical reactions and dialogue, rather than "tell" it. In this article we provide you with inspiration so you can avoid show; don't tell and immerse your readers in your story.

Resilience is the ability to adapt to and overcome challenging situations, setbacks, or obstacles. It involves having the mental strength and flexibility to bounce back from adversity and to keep going in the face of difficulties. Resilience is not about avoiding stress or hardship, but rather about developing the skills and mindset to handle them effectively. It is an important quality to cultivate in characters, as it can add depth, complexity, and relatability to their personalities and actions.

Different Types of Resilience

Here are some different types of resilience:

• Political resilience

Situations Associated with Resilience

Here are some situations where a character might experience the emotion of resilience:

• Overcoming a major setback or obstacle
• Surviving a traumatic experience or abuse
• Coping with chronic illness or physical disability
• Enduring a long-term struggle or challenge
• Facing discrimination or prejudice and standing up for oneself
• Losing a loved one and finding ways to move forward
• Encountering repeated failures or rejections and continuing to try
• Experiencing a major life change, such as divorce or job loss, and adapting to the new circumstances
• Witnessing or experiencing a natural disaster or other crisis and bouncing back

Physical Reactions to Resilience

Here are some physical reactions a character experiencing resilience might have:

• Strong posture and confident body language
• A steady and focused gaze
• A calm and steady voice, even under pressure
• A willingness to take risks and face challenges
• The ability to bounce back from setbacks and failures
• A sense of determination and persistence in the face of obstacles
• A positive and optimistic outlook on the future
• The ability to adapt to changing circumstances and find creative solutions
• A willingness to learn from mistakes and grow from them
• A sense of inner strength and confidence, even in difficult situations

By incorporating these physical signs and behaviors into your character's actions and dialogue, you can create a more dynamic and compelling portrayal of resilience in your writing.

Thoughts Associated with Resilience

Here are some thoughts a character experiencing resilience might have:

• I've been through tough times before and I know I can get through this too.
• I refuse to let this defeat me, I will keep pushing forward.
• I may stumble and fall, but I will keep getting back up.
• I won't let anyone or anything break me down.
• I am stronger than I think, I just need to tap into that strength.
• I've learned from my past experiences and I know what I need to do to overcome this.
• I won't let fear hold me back, I will face this head-on.

Atmosphere of Resilience

Here are some ways that you might reflect the emotion of resilience in the atmosphere of your scene:

• Use natural settings that evoke a sense of strength and endurance, such as mountains, cliffs, or vast open spaces.
• Use weather patterns that reflect resilience, such as storms that rage and then clear, or a dawn that breaks after a long night.
• Use the physical environment to reflect the challenges that a character is facing, such as a broken bridge that they must cross, or a steep and rocky path that they must climb.
• Create a sense of community or support, such as a group of people who band together to overcome adversity.
• Use symbols that represent resilience, such as a phoenix rising from the ashes or a tree that stands tall despite the winds.

Verbs Associated with Resilience

Here are some verbs commonly associated with the emotion of resilience:

• Persisted
• Overcame
• Endured
• Thrived
• Bounced back
• Adapted
• Survived
• Triumphed
• Persevered

Emotions Before Resilience

Here are some emotions that may come before a character experiences resilience:

• Despair
• Heartbreak
• Disappointment
• Defeat
• Sadness
• Hopelessness
• Frustration
• Anguish
• Grief

Emotions After Resilience

Here are some emotions that may come after a character experiences resilience:

• Pride
• Confidence
• Determination
• Empowerment
• Gratitude
• Relief
• Hope
• Joy
• Satisfaction

Telling Resilience Examples to Avoid

Here are some examples of telling the emotion resilience in a sentence. You should avoid things like this:

• Despite all the obstacles in her way, she remained resilient.
• He showed an impressive amount of resilience in the face of adversity.
• Her resilience helped her overcome the challenges she faced.
• He was determined to be resilient and not let anything get in his way.

Practical Examples of Showing Resilience

Here are some examples of showing resilience in a sentence:

• Despite the obstacles, she pushed through and kept working towards her goal.
• He refused to give up, even when the situation seemed hopeless.
• She bounced back from failure and used it as motivation to try again.
• He faced adversity with a determined and unwavering spirit.

Exercises for Showing Resilience

Here are some writing exercises to practice showing resilience:

• Start by defining what resilience means to you, and what it might mean to your character. Consider some of the challenges that your character might face, and how they might overcome them.
• Write a scene in which your character faces a setback or obstacle. Show how they respond to the situation, and how they find the strength to keep going.
• Create a backstory for your character that includes some difficult experiences. How did they cope with these challenges, and how have they grown as a result?
• Write a dialogue between your character and someone who is struggling. Show how your character offers support and encouragement, and how they help the other person to find their own resilience.
• Consider the physical and emotional characteristics of your character. How might these reflect their resilience? For example, do they have a strong posture or a calm demeanor in the face of adversity?
• Write a scene in which your character is forced to confront their own limitations. Show how they use their resilience to push through these limitations and achieve their goals.
• Think about the relationships your character has with others. How do they demonstrate resilience in their interactions with these people?

Want more help with showing emotion instead of telling? You find more help in our full list of emotions.