The art of resilience
Resilience
/rɪˈzɪlɪəns/
noun
1. the capacity to withstand or to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness.
the remarkable resilience of so many institutions
2. the ability of a substance or object to spring back into shape; elasticity.
nylon is excellent in wearability and resilience
Resilience is a process of moving through difficult or traumatic experiences and adapting and growing. Resilience can be cultivated in individuals and strengthened. For some people it can be challenging to identify positive aspects of themselves, and as such, the metaphor of resilience in nature could be a useful emotional bridge helping ourselves realise the ways in which we are already resilient.
The Art Process: Absorbing Strength & Finding Meaning
Look at some of these images below for a minute or two and ask yourself:
- What do these images have in common?
- Do they remind you of anything?
- Have you ever seen nature like this yourself?
- Is there one image that you find yourself particularly drawn to and why?
- How did these (flowers, trees, rocks) have to adapt in order to survive?
After thinking about these questions, you may want to think about the ways in which you are resilient yourself.
I invite you to draw or come up with an image from nature that represents your personal resilience, which is a symbolic self-portrait, using nature for inspiration.
Using nature as a metaphor may help to create deep personal meaning, to feel acknowledged for our struggles as well as our inner strength.
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