The three C's of bouncing back Published Dec. 23, 2010 By Dr. Marc A. Ybaben 75th Medical Group, Occupational Medicine Services HILL AIR FORCE BASE -- So you keep hearing the buzz about building resiliency on base, but what is resiliency? Well, in a nutshell, resiliency is about "bouncing back" and adapting after having a challenging or stressful experience. It's also a fairly common reaction -- most of us are already resilient, yet we can take action to improve on our abilities. So what goes into being resilient? One approach to gaining resiliency describes several "attitudes" or "beliefs" that help us maintain a strong path -- we can call these the "Three Cs." The first attitude is commitment -- having the belief that being involved with tasks and people is one of the best ways to find meaning in one's life. People who are strong in commitment are curious about others, and seek out interactions; to them, being isolated is a waste of time. The second attitude is control; this does not mean we must "be controlling" of others. Rather, the resilient attitude of control is when we believe -- through our own actions and struggles -- that we can usually influence the direction and outcome in our lives. People who are strong in control feel that being inactive is a waste of time -- they prefer to do what they can to make changes. The third attitude in this approach is challenge; this is the same attitude found in open-minded "learners." People who are strong in challenge believe that personal improvement -- whether it's at work, school, with hobbies, etc. -- comes from learning through positive and negative experiences, and that expecting things to be handed to them on a platter would seem ridiculous. Stressful events in our lives are normal, and a person with the "challenge" attitude will approach these events as being opportunities to grow, not opportunities for hiding or running away. So how do we build on or develop these attitudes? Well, here are a few actions that you may be already familiar with: (1) Be a good wingman: Supporting others in times of need and accepting support when you need it are both paths towards resilience. (2) Develop your connections: Spend time with your family and friends, both during and after the holidays. (3) Maintain perspective: Not all problems are "disasters," so be sure to take a long-term, "big picture" view of the hard times (4) Pay attention to yourself: This is not "selfish," but rather "self-care" -- literally doing the things that keep you feeling strong and healthy, whether it's exercise, hobbies, or time with friends and family. We can create a "resiliency cycle" by turning our resilient attitudes into resilient actions, which just strengthens our attitudes. Take a look at your own style, and see if you can "change adversity into opportunity!"