Building Resilience

Let's Do This

Every time you listen to your mentee, provide encouragement, and show up for them, you boost their resilience. Resilience is the ability to bounce back from stress, adversity, failure, challenges, or even trauma. It is not something you are born with but a set of traits that can be taught and strengthened over time. Researcher Nan Henderson has identified ways to create a resilient environment for young people. As caring adults, we can:

• Listen Actively: Pay attention to your mentee's feelings and interests.
• Provide Encouragement: Offer authentic praise and support.
• Show Consistency: Be a reliable presence in their lives.

Stay Inspired

Resilient traits are a combination of internal and environmental factors that mentors can help develop. To learn more about resiliency, check out Nan Henderson's resiliency quiz. You can also read more about the influence mentors have on building resilience here.

This tip was shared with us by our friends at The Caron Foundation.  Learn more about their mission and work.