written by Corey L. Stokes
Let’s talk about resilience. We often reserve the word for significant life events, for bouncing back from trauma or tragedy. But what about the small stuff? The everyday setbacks that throw you off your game and threaten to derail your progress? That’s where resilience truly builds its muscle.
According to the dictionary, resilience is “recovering rapidly from illness, depression, adversity, or the like; buoyant.” For our purposes, let’s simplify it: resilience is your ability to bounce back quickly from a setback.
Think about those perfect streaks you’ve had. You’re hitting the gym every day, your budget is on point, and you’re feeling great. Then, a minor crisis hits. The car won’t start, the kids have an unexpected expense, or a project at work throws your whole schedule off. Suddenly, that setback becomes an excuse to stop completely. You start wallowing in it, and all the progress you’ve made starts to crumble.
This is precisely when your resilience muscle needs to kick in. You don’t have to rise to every single occasion, but you can rely on your training to fall back into a healthy habit. By consistently training your mind and body to be resilient, you’re better able to manage stress and tackle challenging tasks.
It’s no different with our finances. Financial setbacks are inevitable. The key is whether they derail your progress or if you can recover quickly.
Micheline and I recently planned several trips this year. Everything was scheduled for May, June, July, and September. Even though we knew these events were on the calendar, we experienced a minor setback when we realized how tightly packed they were. We were double-booked on one weekend and had to cancel an entire trip. A few years ago, this would have devastated us financially and mentally. But because we’ve practiced our financial resilience skills for over a decade, we were able to quickly re-evaluate our plans, adjust our budget, and move forward without letting it derail our other goals.
Resilience in both our physical and financial lives isn’t about avoiding setbacks—that’s impossible. It’s about how quickly we can get back on track after they happen. Just as a consistent fitness routine strengthens your body to handle a missed workout, building consistent financial habits reinforces your ability to handle an unexpected expense.
How do you build your resilience muscle? Drawing inspiration from (Mister Motivation) Shaun Murphy’s “Unbreakable Valor,” here’s how we can train ourselves to bounce back stronger.
- Train Consistently: Stick to your routines, even on days you don’t feel like it. Small, consistent efforts—like saving a few dollars every day or going for a short walk—build the endurance you need for bigger challenges.
- Acknowledge the Setback Without Self-Blame: You had a bad spending week or missed a few workouts. Acknowledge what happened, but don’t let it define you. As Shaun’s story shows, your past mistakes are not your identity.
- Put Learnings into Practice: After a setback, reflect on what went wrong and use that as a stepping stone. Did an unexpected bill throw off your budget? Now you know to plan for a larger “miscellaneous” fund. This turns a negative event into a lesson that strengthens your financial plan.
- Find Your Tribe: The boys in “The Body” relied on each other for support. Shaun’s journey also highlights the power of finding a community that lifts you up. Surround yourself with people who encourage your goals and can help you navigate challenging times.
The more you train, the better equipped you are to handle anything life throws your way, both in the gym and in your bank account.
Stay physically and financially fit.
Corey Stokes 