Resilience Movement

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Chaos and growing agression everywhere, repressed voices… Fortunately, there are paths we can take, together and alone, for greater physical, mental and emotional balance. The Resilience Movement advocates the development of solutions for more resilience that all members of society can contribute to and learn from. When people grow together, experience being connected and support each other, there is no longer a reason for excluding “the other”.

This Resilience Movement wants to stimulate leadership in children, young people and adults, in and out of school, at home, at work, in the media and in politics. We strive for a dignified, wise, inclusive and creative society of healthier people who, as they grow, learn to deal with tension, conflict and polarisation.

This movement requires no membership or registration. Be creative, get inspired, inspire others and connect if you wish.

• #Resmove collects practical tools and ideas for anyone who is interested in resilience: check the practice & inspiration page.
• #Resmove facilitates online groups to share experiences and connect: check our Facebook group, Instagram (resilience_movement.eu) and the blog-page for open gatherings and stories.
• #Resmove invites you to discover what you and your environment need, to create more collective resiliences. Every little action is important!

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Me?

In your own way, you can help build a more resilient future step by step.

Together?

Resilience and freedom are collective, it’s the result of gathering and connecting.

Action!

Start today, acting for stronger health, community and creativity.

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Resilience from the dictionary

• “The ability to be happy, successful, healthy again after something difficult or bad has happened. “Trauma researchers emphasize the resilience of the human psyche.“
• The ability of a substance to return to its usual shape after being bent, stretched, or pressed. “The plant fibre has incredible strength and resilience.“
• The quality of being able to return quickly to a previous good condition after problems

How do we define resilience?

We emphasize that resilience is not an individual responsibility or capacity, even if the resources below also need our individual attention. Resilience is intimately linked to belonging, community and collective care. Think of a spring that can withstand a certain pressure. When the pressure is removed, the spring will bounce back and return to its original shape. Unless when the pressure is too big, too heavy, then the spring deforms and loses its ability to bounce back. People can also bounce back to a healthy state* after disturbances and setbacks, provided that basic skills and social networks have been developed to tolerate pressure and tension, and that the pressure does not exceed the carrying capacity. Developing these basic skills takes effort, especially when it is new. So practising resilience is not always fun. But it can be linked to enjoyable activities.

10 facets of resilience

1. Ability to self-soothe
2. Balanced physical activity and self-care
3. Capacity for self-reliance
4. Emotional expression
5. Non-judgment, equanimity
6. Optimism and joy
7. Hope
8. Robustness
9. Sense of cohesion and connection
10. Social support and kindness

*By healthy state, we mean that you are capable of human connection and that you can express and fulfil your basic needs on a physical, emotional and mental level.

The beginning of Resmove

The Resilience Movement started in 2021, as a space to meet, connect and share experiences. Today several friends and facilitators are holding space for this open network and for collective action, contributing to building new cultures and communities.

“In corona time, while aggression among children (and their parents) at school increases and is untenable with the limited educational resources, while poverty, burnouts and the waiting lists at the mental health care continue to rise, I seek for change. I am not against measures and structures. But I do want a wiser and more respectful way of dealing with children, young people, citizens, information and responsibilities. So I had a conversation with my kids of 10, 13 and 18 years old, and we made a little plan. We want to do something to attract attention, we don’t want to keep waiting, muddling along on our own and hearing excuses to avoid action. Because of the tunnel vision caused by lack of information, uncertainty and fear, people do not realise that they can do something, for themselves and for each other. Anyway, our patience has run out. We want attention for resilience, simple connecting initiatives and honest information for everyone NOW.”

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Why?

• The past years brought us valuable experiences, such as the growing awareness of how important human connection and health is. And we are experiencing a growing culture of fear and exclusion, the deterioration of social interaction and our immune systems, the ignoring of social issues such as genocide, poverty, climate and discrimination. Meanwhile, the number of burnouts and other stress-related illnesses continues to rise.
• Aggression is increasing throughout societies, also ours. As a result of too many stimuli and a lack of emotional development, we and our children attack each other. Because we are used to limitations and specific habits, such as a lack-of-time, perfectionism, ignore our personal boundaries, social exclusion, mass consumerism, perverse power structures, and many other oppressive dynamics.
• Education is collapsing under the cognitive curricula, and the framework, support and resources for teaching staff are inadequate and outdated. The digital and social media pressure is increasing exponentially. Unfortunately, schools are still designed to produce obedient, docile, knowledge-reflecting people. The many school drop-outs show us the system is failing.

Goals and Results

G1: Maximum focus on collective resilience at school, work and home, without having to wait for political decisions or approval.
R1: Rapidly improving the atmosphere, concentration and communication at school, at home and at work.

G2: Media explicitly gives time and attention to nourishing information and basic tips on how to strengthen your health and to deal with anxiety.
R2: Increased general knowledgea and stimulation for diverse practices among the whole population that impact health, dealing with uncertainty, illness and fear. This leads to less powerlessness and aggression and to a more creative attitude to life.

G3: Decision-making and political action aim to create a dignified climate in all areas. Children, young people, care-givers and vulnerable families must be involved and appreciated in this process.
R3: More wisdom, clarity and humanity in (political) decision-making, greater decisiveness and support, awareness of power dynamics and how to use the privileges we have.

What does that mean in my daily life?

1. Talk to and inform the people you know and you meet about collective resilience, be curious together which kind of active citizenship can be your way to contribute to more health and leadership.
2. Make time for a walk, pause to breathe, and invent other small health-stimulating activities or that will regularly balance your physical (immune system) and mental (emotional regulation) health.
3. Share something about your own actions with many people.
4. Invite your friends to support each other in developing resilience or look for trainings or guidance.