Research indicates that when people believe that their abilities and social attributes develop and improve then they have “growth mindset.” They increase their own resilience, revealing enhanced performance and lower response to adversity. Experts indicate that resilience involves attitudes and these are: gratitude, compassion, acceptance, trust and forgiveness. These factors build resilience, which involves a combination of inner and outer strengths of individuals. As a result, there is no one universally accepted formula for becoming more resilient.
Resilience varies from one individual to another. Studies show that some of the key factors that contribute to personal resilience include: the manner in which one engages with the world; the availability and quality of social resources; and specific coping strategies. Resilience is not something people resort to only during moments of adversity. It also builds as people face all kinds of stress every day.
When people could not fulfill the expectations they set for themselves, then they need the support of experts to guide them. But, these experts should have the appropriate competence for guiding people on how to achieve their expected results. After that, these people should have the ability to know how to handle situations effectively. In building such competence, individuals develop skills for trusting their judgments and make responsible choices.
In Ethiopia, there are traditional elders who share their experiences with the young people on how to achieve their expectations. They try to build self-confidence in the youth that provides ways and means of facing the real life situations. But, these days the young Ethiopians tend to avoid elders, after having exposure to modern tech and IT. This exposure to advanced tech is not substantiated with domestic capacities that are shrouded with local culture and behavior.
Consequently, the youth are once again faced with “unfulfilled” expectations. This seems to be true among the youth in the rest of the African continent. Their resilience to such adversity will be eroded if there is no proper remedial action taken.
Experts assert that true self-confidence is rooted in a well-developed competence. They also think that individuals gain confidence by demonstrating it in real-life situations. This begins with being closely connected to family, friends, and community that provide a sense of security and attachment. They also assert that individuals need a “sense of right and wrong” to make responsible choices, contribute to society, and experience success. These experts also believe that having a “sense of purpose” is a powerful motivator.
When one contributes to a community, it reinforces positive reciprocal relationships. When people achieve the skill of coping with stress effectively, they become better prepared to handle adversity, hardship, difficulty, danger and misfortune. They develop an understanding of internal control that helps them to solve problems instead of becoming victims of circumstance. When Ethiopian youth learn that they can control the outcomes of their decisions, then they are more likely to view themselves as capable and confident.
According to experts, resilience illustrates the interaction between personal strengths and external resources, regardless of age. The idea of resilience is coping. It may be psychological resilience that copes with uncertainty, challenges, and adversity. It is sometimes referred to by experts as “mental fortitude.” used to represent overall adaptability and
People who reveal psychological resilience are able to develop coping strategies and skills. These skills enable them to stay calm during a crisis and move forward without negative impacts, including distress and anxiety. In other words, people cope with stress and adversity in time of crises. Experts think that some people are sensitive to changes they have not control on.
However, certain social circumstances may cause emotions in some people and not in others. Emotional people may understand what they may feel and why. In this regard, most Ethiopians are capable of managing external stress and their own emotions in time of crises.
Ethiopians have the ability to adapt to challenges, maintain strength, and recover quickly from crises efficiently. They are also able to function and recover when faced with illness, accidents, or other physical deficiencies. Thus, physical resilience plays an important role in healthy aging, as people encounter medical issues and physical stress.
Ethiopian elders may enjoy healthy lifestyle, connections with friends and neighbors, and spend time to rest and recover. They engage in enjoyable activities that contribute to physical resilience of the elders. Similarly, they enjoy community life that enables groups of elderly people to respond to and recover from adverse situations. They respond to natural disasters, acts of violence, economic hardship, and other challenges positively.
Culturally, community resilience provides protection to Ethiopians of all ages. Ethiopians, particularly elders, show resilience, in combination with coping capabilities and emotional intelligence. They are more likely to have better overall lifestyles than those with lower resilience against adversity.
BY GETACHEW MINAS
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SUNDAY EDITION 13, July 2025
