The Importance of Psychological Resilience As a Volunteer

Across a range of fields, including engineering, ecology, economics, and psychology, the concept of resilience has been conceptualized in numerous diverse but related ways. According to one definition of psychological resilience, it is a dynamic psychosocial process by which people who are subjected to long-term adversity or potentially traumatic situations gradually experience help us improve adaptation.

Resilience is described in the literature as having several advantageous traits. These positive traits include being able to deal with unfavourable situations, healing, safeguarding psychological health from stressful situations and life’s other challenges, adapting, being functional, having hope for the future, and being successful and healthy. The capacity to handle stress and obstacles is a trait of resilient people. However, while attempting to overcome challenges, individuals display individual variances. In this sense, people with resilience might be described as strong people who cope with challenges in their own unique ways. 

Resilience is developmental in the sense that people change and mature throughout their lives and that childhood and adolescence are crucial times to set the groundwork for functioning as adults. At various times, various protective mechanisms play a more significant role in life experience and psychological health. Overwhelming difficulties may foster strengths that later show themselves. Resilience is a process rather than a product, yet “resilient outcomes” may refer to accomplishments regarded as remarkable given a person’s circumstances. So why is resilience important when volunteering on a project?

Imagine that you will take part in a project where people from different nationalities will work together and this will be your first abroad experience. You have not seen these people before. You do not know their culture, language, habits, or characters.  Actually, this is the exciting part of the project. At the same time, there will be situations that will excite you, as well as challenge you, apart from your teammates in the project. For example, not knowing the language of the country you are going to or not being used to the weather. It is very possible that you will experience culture shock. To cope with them, you need to have some level of psychological resilience. In this way, you can overcome the difficulties you will encounter. So how are you going to get over this? 

First, we’ll start with the mindset. Yes, no one promised you that everything would be easy in the project. Although facilities are provided for your comfort, this is actually a volunteering project designed to get you out of your “comfort zone.” Do not forget that this project is a chance for you and it contains good opportunities. Remind yourself of what you have accomplished and the purpose of being here. The more you increase your awareness of this matter, the more you will strengthen your psychological resilience. Secondly, take care of your relationships. Especially try to get to know your friends in the project closely. Spend as much time with them as you can. You may not see the people in the project again, or on the contrary, you will establish very strong friendship ties and continue to meet throughout your life, and you will have an unforgettable and special friendship. Do not hesitate to share your difficulties in the project with your friends. Maybe they have the same problems as you and are looking for a solution. Thirdly, although it may sound strange, learning to accept certain things is an important factor to strengthen psychological resilience. Try to take yourself out of the situation and look from the top and try to perceive the situation objectively. Writing a future disaster scenario will not help you much. If you are feeling overwhelmed, remember that this feeling is temporary and not an indicator of your life. Maybe you can’t change a stressful event, but you can change the way you interpret and respond to the event. 

Finally, there is a piece of advice I would like to give you as a counsellor and volunteer. Time flies like water in the project. You may have future plans in your mind, and problems that you want to leave behind, but if you want to get maximum efficiency from this project for your personal development, remind yourself that “I am on a road. This road is bumpy road. I don’t know where it ends, but right now there is a beautiful view in front of me (the view is the project you are in), I will enjoy this view and continue on my way. Because it’s nice to be on the road.”

I hope you have an unforgettable volunteering experience where you go through all the difficulties with ease 😊

Article by Elif Tala