Resilience is an essential quality for service members to have, particularly those with marginalized identities such as LGBTQ+ individuals, people of color, women, and those from low socioeconomic backgrounds. These groups may face unique challenges in the military that can make it difficult to cope with stressors related to their identity, job performance, or personal life. To build resilience, these individuals can engage in various strategies that help them navigate these challenges, including self-care practices, connecting with others who share similar experiences, seeking supportive resources, and cultivating positive attitudes towards themselves and their circumstances. By implementing these strategies consistently, they can develop greater psychological flexibility and mental toughness, which will serve them well during times of adversity.
Self-Care Practices: Resilience begins within oneself, and taking care of one's physical and emotional needs is crucial for building this capacity. Service members with marginalized identities can prioritize regular exercise, healthy eating, getting enough sleep, managing stress through meditation or mindfulness techniques, and setting boundaries around work and personal time. They can also engage in activities that bring them joy, such as reading, art, music, or sports. Engaging in hobbies outside of work can provide a sense of purpose and fulfillment that contributes to overall wellbeing.
Connecting with Others: Support systems are important for everyone, but especially for service members with marginalized identities who may feel isolated due to discrimination or prejudice. Building relationships with peers, mentors, supervisors, and family members can create a network of people who understand their unique challenges and offer guidance and encouragement. Finding community groups or online forums focused on LGBTQ+ issues, racial justice, or other topics related to identity can provide additional sources of connection and support.
Seeking Supportive Resources: Many military installations have programs designed specifically for service members from diverse backgrounds, including cultural centers, chaplains, and counseling services. Seeking out these resources when needed can help individuals navigate difficult situations related to their identity and get the assistance they need to thrive. MilitaryOneSource offers confidential counseling services and resources to all eligible service members and their families, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
Cultivating Positive Attitudes:
Building resilience involves reframing negative thoughts and beliefs into more positive ones. Service members with marginalized identities can practice gratitude, self-compassion, and optimism by acknowledging their strengths, focusing on what they can control, and recognizing that setbacks are temporary. They can challenge themselves to see challenges as opportunities for growth rather than insurmountable obstacles. This mindset shift requires consistent effort and practice but can lead to greater resiliency over time.
Cultivating resilience is essential for service members with marginalized identities, and there are many strategies available to build this capacity. Engaging in self-care practices, connecting with others, seeking supportive resources, and practicing positive attitudes can all contribute to greater psychological flexibility and mental toughness. By implementing these strategies consistently, individuals can develop a strong foundation for coping with stressors and facing adversity with confidence and composure.
What strategies enhance resilience for service members with marginalized identities?
Resilience is defined as the capacity of an individual to adapt successfully to adversity and stressful situations, maintaining positive wellbeing despite life challenges (Masten et al. , 2015). It refers to one's ability to bounce back from difficult experiences rather than focusing on the negative impacts they may have had on their lives. Resilient individuals are able to cope with difficulties and move forward positively.